About this book
This handbook provides you with information about your Lease with Oxford City Council, the services we provide and some useful information about living in your home. Staff will often refer to it when talking to you about your Lease.
If you have a query about our services or about your Lease, check in this handbook to find out if it gives you the information you need. See the contents list below or the detailed index at the back of this handbook.
This handbook was developed by Oxford City Council staff and leaseholders working together. We have tried to make sure that it is accurate. However, we accept no legal responsibility for information contained in it and it does not overide the terms of your Lease. We strongly recommend that you also take independent advice about matters relating to your Lease and your leaseholder rights. See Leaseholder advice.
What is a leaseholder?
If you are a leaseholder you own all of your home, usually a flat or maisonette, but Oxford City Council will usually own the whole building. You have the right to occupy your home for the period set out in your Lease.
Leaseholders pay service charges which cover a management charge and a contribution to the upkeep of the fabric of the building and any shared services. You will also pay ground rent.
In most cases Oxford City Council owns the land your home is built on and is the freeholder. However, in a few cases, Oxford City Council has acquired the land on a long lease. Your Lease will then refer to Oxford City Council as the head lessee rather than the freeholder.
All landlord services provided to leaseholders and tenants living in Oxford City Council properties are managed by Oxford City Homes; this is part of Oxford City Council.
If you need to have any part of this handbook explained or you want to talk about any topic covered by this handbook, please contact your Incomes Officer. See Contacting us.
Other useful contact numbers are given in Useful contacts.
If you would like any part of this book explained, translated, or put on tape please let us know. If you would find it easier to talk to us in another language, we can arrange for an interpreter to help.
Smoking regulations. Under the Smoke Free Regulations that came into force on 1st July 2007, employees have the right to work in a smoke free environment. Oxford City Homes politely ask you not to smoke while our staff are in your home, whether this is to carry out a repair or to visit you to discuss your Lease or any other matter. If you smoke, our staff may not be able to remain working in your home.
This handbook was developed and updated by tenant and leaseholder representatives, and staff working closely together.
For a general topic area go to Contents.
For a specific topic, go to A-Z index.
The Internet Tenants’ Book conforms to the W3C Level Double-A Standards.
