Guidance for Leaseholders

If you live in the property see also Guidance for Occupants

Before carrying out any changes to your property , you should ensure that any material building alterations are agreed and checked by local building control to ensure they comply with the Building Regulations.  

If you wish to remove, replace or change your flat entrance doors in any way (including the self-closing mechanism), you must always consult your building manager and local building control body before making any such changes.

Under the Building Safety Act 2022, leaseholders have significant protections regarding the remediation of building safety defects.  

1. Cladding Remediation: Qualifying leaseholders are protected from the costs of removing or replacing unsafe cladding. These costs are typically covered by the building owner or developer.
2. Historical Safety Defects: Leaseholders are also protected from the costs associated with remediating other historical safety defects. This includes issues that pose a risk to the safety of residents, such as fire safety defects.
3. Qualifying Leaseholders: To be considered a qualifying leaseholder, the lease must be a long lease (more than 21 years) granted before 14 February 2022. Additionally, the property must have been the leaseholder's only or principal home on that date, or the leaseholder must not own more than three homes in total in the UK.
4. Cost Caps: For non-cladding defects, there are caps on the amount leaseholders can be required to contribute. These caps are spread over 10 years, and any costs already paid since 28 June 2017 count towards the cap.             
5. Remediation Orders: Leaseholders can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a remediation order, which requires the landlord to remedy defects in the building. They can also seek a remediation contribution order, which requires the landlord, developer, or an associate to contribute towards the cost of remediation works.

These protections are designed to prevent leaseholders from facing crippling financial burdens due to safety defects in their buildings.

Further Information

• Leaseholder protections on building safety costs in England
• How am I protected by the Building Safety Act?
• Check if you'll have to pay to fix safety problems with your building
• Building safety leaseholder protections: guidance for leaseholders - GOV.UK