Your Lease

Leasehold ownership of a flat is simply a long tenancy and the right to own a flat for the term of a lease.

• The lease is a contract between you and Darlington Borough Council.  It gives you and your successors the right of possession of your flat for a fixed period (125 years at first) provided you keep to their terms of the lease
• The lease comes with conditions to protect the rights of everyone with an interest in the building
• The property can be bought and sold during the term of the lease
• The term is fixed at the start and then decreases in length year by year.  For example, after on year of a lease being available on a property, the term will drop to 124 years or, if you buy a leasehold flat from someone you will take it over at the current length of its term
• The lease sets out who is responsible for what: what you as the leaseholder has agreed to do, and what the landlord is required to do
• You should get a solicitor to look at the terms and conditions set out in the lease before you buy the lease
• The lease is a legal document so please keep it in a safe place.  We can provide you with a copy, at a cost, if you lose it.

How Can I Get A Copy Of My Lease?

You must contact the Legal Services Department of Darlington Borough Council, Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington, DL1 5QT or telephone Customer Service on 01325 388542 or email them at customerservices@darlington.gov.uk

What If I Can't Understand My Lease?

As a legal document, your lease can be difficult to read and understand.

We are looking to produce a Plain English explanation of what the lease says.

This would however only be a guide-the legal wording if your actual lease would be used in law if there were a disagreement over the terms of your lease.

A copy of the Plain English version will be sent to all leaseholders once produced.