Understanding your shared ownership lease with Oxford City Council
Your shared ownership lease is a crucial legal agreement between you and Oxford City Council. It outlines your rights and responsibilities, as well as ours, regarding your property.
The lease details your home, including any garden, garage, shed, or parking space. It also includes a plan showing the area of your property (the 'demise'), the block, and the estate for service charge calculations.
What the lease includes
Your lease is divided into 'schedules', each specifying the conditions and responsibilities for you as the shared owner and for us as the freeholder (landlord).
If you have bought a home from us, we retain the land's ownership. For flats, we are responsible for communal areas and the building's overall structure, including roofs, stairways, landings, and windows.
Oxford City Council's responsibilities
Our responsibilities include:
- managing and maintaining buildings and estates
- maintaining shared owner records
- arranging building insurance (excluding contents)
- calculating and billing service charges
- addressing your queries
- handling insurance claims for properties
- processing alteration requests
Your responsibilities as a shared owner
Your responsibilities cover:
- adhering to the lease agreement
- reporting necessary repairs
- maintaining the interior of your home
- paying rent and service charges
- ensuring no nuisance or damage is caused by household members or visitors
- refraining from running a business from the property
- not altering the property without our consent
- maintaining the building's structural integrity
- allowing us access after notice
- not subletting the property
Financial information and consultations
We provide you with the following financial information:
- a service charge estimate letter for the upcoming account year (1 April to 31 March)
- details of your rent for the same period
After the account year ends, we compare the actual expenses with the estimate. If the actual costs are higher, we will invoice you for the difference. If they are lower, your account will be credited.
Upon request, we can also provide:
- detailed breakdowns of works included in your statement
- details of repairs to your block and estate reflected in the actual service charges
For works exceeding £250 on your block or estate, we will formally consult with you.
