Renewing your lease

Leaseholders have the right to renew their lease. A new lease can be bought which adds another ninety years to the time left to run on the existing lease. To qualify you must have occupied your property as your only or main home for the last three years or periods that add up to three years in the last ten.

If you want to know more about this, then you should contact the Housing department, and they will provide you with the information you require. Alternatively, you can email us at propertyaccts@wandsworth.gov.uk and we will pass on your enquiry to the relevant office for you. Please provide your full name, the address and post code of the leasehold property concerned, your address (if different) and your service charge account reference to help us identify you as the leaseholder concerned.

 Buying the Freehold

Long leaseholders of flats have the right to buy the freehold of their building as a group if they and their block qualify. Once they have bought the freehold, leaseholders can decide for themselves how to manage their block and take over the council's responsibilities.

You can find out more about buying your freehold on the home ownership pages.

 Selling your Property (Assignment of Lease)

If you wish to sell your property, the council will, on written request, provide you or your solicitor with any relevant factual information. There is a charge for this service, which is presently £95.48 (plus VAT). You (or your solicitor) should contact the Housing Department's Leasehold Services Section on (020) 8871 7046 or by email at hms@wandsworth.gov.uk. Please provide your full name, the address and postcode of the leasehold property concerned, your address (if different) and your service charge account reference number to help us identify you as the leaseholder concerned. A daytime telephone number will also be helpful.

You may find it helpful if your solicitor has a copy of your lease, together with any five year binding estimates of service charges, details of routine and major service charges over recent years, and any consultation notices for work about to be carried out.

When your lease is assigned, all service charge arrears, including deferred loans, must be cleared on completion of sale. The council will not be party to the apportionment of outstanding service charges between leaseholders and purchasers. It is your responsibility to ensure that your solicitor resolves this and having done so, retains sufficient monies for charges not yet billed.

In any event, if you want to be sure about the status of your service charge account, please contact the Income Collection Service on (020) 8871 6297 or by email at debtorsaccount@wandsworth.gov.uk. Please provide your full name, the address and postcode of the leasehold property concerned, your address (if different) and your service charge account reference number to help us identify you as the leaseholder concerned. A daytime telephone number will also be helpful. 

More information can be found in the leaseholders guide. For further information and advice please contact your managing agent, management co-operative or RMO.