Preserved right to buy
Most tenants who transferred to the Trust from Vale Royal Borough Council can buy their home under the "Preserved Right to Buy scheme."
- You must have been a secure or protected assured tenant for at least 2 years
- The property you wish to buy must be your only or main home.
If you qualify, you can buy your home jointly with up to three adult family members provided they have lived with you for at least a year before the date of your application and it is their only or main home.
Not all homes are available to buy including:
- Sheltered accommodation where there are communal facilities and an on-site manager
- Some homes which are classed as suitable for the elderly or which are especially adapted for the disabled ( although there are exceptions)
- Temporary accommodation
- Homes we have leased from other landlords
Also some tenants are not entitled to buy their homes. These are:
- Homeless persons living in temporary accommodation
- Employees of Weaver Vale Housing Trust who have been provided with accommodation as part of their job
- Those tenants who have a possession order in force against them.
Right to acquire
Tenants who transferred to the Trust from Vale Royal Borough Council may have the choice of purchasing through the Preserved Right to Buy Scheme or the Right to Acquire scheme.
If you become a tenant of Weaver Vale Housing Trust after the date of the transfer of housing from the Council, you may be eligible to buy your home under the Right to Acquire Scheme so long as certain requirements are met. Some properties are excluded from the scheme for reasons similar to those above but also because of the properties location. To be eligible to buy you must have spent at least 2 years (or 5 years if your tenancy commences after 18th January 2005) as a public sector tenant, which can include being a tenant of Weaver Vale Housing Trust. You must also be living in a house or flat that is self contained and is your only or main home.
Both schemes are subject to legislative change at any time.
The above is a brief summary only and should not be taken as a full explanation of the scheme.
For more information on either scheme please contact the Home Ownership Officer on 01606 813350.
Other schemes
Leasehold Information
Introduction
This section is designed to provide information for both prospective and existing leaseholders. Many Trust leaseholders are first time buyers for whom owning a property is a new venture.
Please remember that if you experience any problems with your lease, you should always begin by referring to your lease agreement or seek independent legal advice.
What is a lease?
A lease is a formal document which is the contract between you, as the leaseholder and Weaver Vale Housing Trust, as the freeholder. When you sign the lease or take over an existing lease when you buy your property, you are agreeing to certain responsibilities and so are we.
Before you purchase a leasehold property you must get your solicitor to explain the lease to you so you understand your responsibilities.
Can the lease be changed?
The lease will generally allow for the services and charges to be changed during the period of the lease. However, in general the conditions of the lease can only be changed if we both agree to the changes, or by the direction of a court or Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.
Will I pay service charges?
Under the terms of the Trust's leases leaseholders are required to contribute towards a service charge. The service charge is the amount paid by the leaseholder towards the day-to-day running costs of the block of flats, and a share of the costs of any major repairs. The charge represents the leaseholders share of the expenses for the maintenance, repair, insurance and management of the building. The Trust is legally required to collect service charges from leaseholders.
The service charge is likely to cover, where applicable:
- Grounds maintenance
- Building maintenance
- Management and administration costs
- Insurance
- Sinking fund contribution
- Communal electricity.
You will be sent an annual invoice for your service charge, but if you would prefer to pay by instalments this can be arranged.
The current average service charge is between £600 £700 per year but your service charge may be higher or lower.
What about ground rent?
You will also be required to pay a ground rent of £10.00 per year. You will be sent an invoice for this.
What if the leaseholder doesn't pay?
The Trust will contact you to try and establish the reason for non-payment. A payment agreement can be reached to pay by instalments if necessary. We will only consider taking formal action where this fails. We may then consider contacting your mortgage company or referring the matter to a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.
What if the leaseholder fails to do what they are responsible for ?
The Trust will contact you to discuss the matter and try to sort it out. We will only take formal action against you if this fails. On occasions we must take more action, for example, if you fail to carry out a necessary repair which may affect people's health and safety or cause a nuisance.
What if the Trust fails to carry out its duties?
Please contact the home ownership team on 01606 813350 at first instance to report the failing. The home ownership team will try to resolve matters on your behalf.
As a leaseholder you could make a formal complaint under the Trust's complaints procedure.
I bought my flat but now I want to sell?
Please contact the home ownership team on 01606 813350 at first instance. Your lease will also make reference to a sale on. If you received a discount on the purchase and depending upon when you sell you may need to repay some or all of the discount. The home ownership team will be able to advise you on this and the process you should follow.
Can I sublet my home?
Your lease will tell you if you need permission to sublet your home.
What repairs are the Trust responsible for?
Generally the Trust are responsible for the outside of your property, the main structure and any shared areas and services.
However, please refer to the lease which will set out the repairing responsibilities.
What repairs is the leaseholder responsible for?
Although the Trust owns the structure of the building in which you live, you as a leaseholder will be responsible for the parts of the dwelling that are not classed as communal or shared areas. These include:
- Individual heating systems and appliances
- Internal ceilings
- Internal doors
- All plaster and other surfaces to all floors, walls and ceilings within your home
- All plumbing and electrical services in your home
- Internal decorations
- Individual gardens
but check your lease for further detail.
Do I need permission to carry out repairs/improvements?
Please refer to your lease but some works will require permission which should be sought in writing from the Trust.
Does the Trust have a leaseholder group?
Not currently but we are looking into this but you may wish to set up an informal leaseholder group in your area.
You will be included on estate walkabouts and will receive corporate communications e.g. Your Home magazine from the Trust.
Can leaseholders manage the services themselves?
By law, leaseholders can manage the services to the scheme themselves or appoint a managing agent if certain conditions are met. You may need to seek independent legal advice regarding this.
Future service developments
The Trust are in the process of producing a leasehold handbook. This will be made available on this website following publication.
Contact us
For further information on this area please contact:
Sue Malek, Home Ownership Officer on 01606 813350 or sue.malek@wvht.co.uk Angela Darlington, Home Ownership Assistant on 01606 813349 or angela.darlington@wvht.co.uk Joanne Watkins, Solicitor on 01606 813345 or joanne.watkins@wvht.co.uk
Shared Ownership & Homebuy
What is shared ownership?
Shared ownership is a programme to help people who cannot afford to purchase a home outright.
You can buy a share in a property, usually 50%, from a Registered Social Landlord/Housing Association and pay rent on the remaining share you do not own. This is designed to ensure you have realistic and affordable, rent and mortgage repayments. Gradually you may buy further shares and eventually purchase the final share so you own your home outright. This process is known as staircasing. At this point the freehold will be sold to you and the lease will expire.
Who is eligible?
For new properties it is generally people who are in housing need and cannot afford to buy a suitable home in any other way.
For properties being re-sold - This depends upon the terms of the lease under which the share of the property was sold initially as many leases require the property to be offered back to the landlord for re-purchase or for the landlord to nominate a suitable purchaser. If this is not possible then the property may be offered for sale on the open market.
How do I apply?
Unfortunately we have no new schemes under development at present. However, to register an interest in purchasing any existing shared ownership property which is being sold on please contact Joanne Watkins on 01606 813345 or by email joanne.watkins@wvht.co.uk
Alternatively, you can register your interest with the Housing Options Team at Vale Royal Borough Council on 01606 862862. They may be aware of other landlords in the area offering shared ownership properties for sale.
It is also worth registering with local estates as they may be offered shared ownership properties for sale.
Where are the current shared ownership schemes?
The Trust current shared ownership schemes are located at:
- Flower Street, Northwich
- Malpas Close, Northwich
- Malpas Road, Northwich
- Castle Court, Northwich
- Ship Street, Frodsham
although it should be noted that these are "mixed tenure schemes" comprising shared ownership/owner occupier and tenanted properties.
The Trust currently has 34 shared ownership houses in its ownership.
What at the costs associated with shared ownership?
You will need to raise the funds to pay for the costs of buying the initial share in the property. This is normally done by arranging a mortgage.
The other costs of buying will be similar to those of any normal house purchase:
- Legal fees
- Survey
- Stamp duty
- Valuation fee
- Land Registry fee
- Deposit
Once you have bought your shared ownership home, you will need to consider the regular costs associated with home ownership:
- Monthly mortgage payments
- Rent
- Council tax
- Water, gas, electricity
- Repair and maintenance.
- Insurance.
Also remember that further costs will be incurred when you purchase additional shares in the property.
Who does the repairs?
Shared owners have the full responsibility of repairs and maintenance themselves.
Please note that it is important to seek independent legal advice before committing yourself to purchase under this scheme.
What is Homebuy?
This is a scheme which allows you to buy a home but only contribute 75% of its price. The cost of the remaining 25% is met by the RSL/Housing Association. This is done by giving you a loan of 25% of the price. This is not like a loan from a private lender because you do not have to make any monthly interest payments.
When you eventually sell the property the loan is repaid. You get 75% of the market value at the time of the sale and the RSL/Housing Association gets 25%
There are some restrictions:
- You must be a tenant of an RSL or the local authority or nominated by the local council as someone in housing need
And
- The RSL must agree to offer you a place on the Homebuy scheme
- You must show you cannot afford to buy the property without Homebuy
- You must live in an area which offers Homebuy
- The property you wish to purchase must not be too expensive
- The property must be in good condition.
You cannot buy:
- A property you are currently renting
- A property owned by a relative
- Properties which are already discounted by another subsidy e.g. right to buy discount.
How will you look after Your Home?
If you purchase via Homebuy you will be the home owner. You will be responsible for organising or carrying out and paying for any repairs, decorations or maintenance that is needed. You will need to set aside money for keeping the property in good repair.
What at the costs associated with Homebuy?
You will need to raise the funds to pay for the costs of buying the 75% share in the property. This is normally done by arranging a mortgage.
The other costs of buying will be similar to those of any normal house purchase:
- Legal fees
- Survey
- Stamp duty
- Valuation fee
- Land Registry fee
- Deposit.
Once you have bought your home, you will need to consider the regular costs associated with home ownership:
- Monthly mortgage payments
- Council tax
- Water, gas, electricity
- Repair and maintenance.
- Insurance.
Availability
At present the Trust do not offer Homebuy as a purchasing option but this may be available in the future. This page will be updated with further details when these are available.
