Your leasehold services

Selling your leasehold property

You do not need our permission to sell your property unless it is being sold within the first 10 years of purchase under the Right to Buy scheme. When the sale is completed, you must inform us of the change of ownership and contact details for the new owners.

Right of first refusal

We are not usually able to repurchase properties sold under the Right to buy scheme. If you bought your property from us after 18 January 2005 and wish to sell within 10 years of buying it, you must offer us the Right of first refusal, to sell it back at a mutually agreed price or a price determined by the district valuer. 

Leasehold discount repayment

If you sell your property within 5 years of buying it under the Right to Buy scheme, you will usually have to pay back some of the discount given to you. The percentage owed is worked out on the length of time you have left within the five years.  

If you sell within:

  • 1 year of purchase: you pay all of the discount
  • 2 years of purchase: 4/5 of the discount
  • 3 years of purchase: 3/5 of the discount
  • 4 years of purchase: 2/5 of the discount
  • 5 years of purchase: 1/5 of the discount

There are some circumstances where the discount does not have to be repaid, for example if the sale is to your husband, wife or another member of your family who has lived with you for at least 12 months. In such cases, you are advised to seek legal advice.

Your leasehold service charge 

You must clear any remaining service charges before completion of the sale as any outstanding amount on the account remains with the property. 

This is the same for any pending charges incurred during the seller’s period of ownership; for example: annual service charge or major works that are due to be invoiced after the property has been sold. The solicitor will usually deal with this within the completion statement.

Pre-assignment sales information pack 

If you are selling your property, you or your solicitor can apply in writing to the Service Charge team for a pre-assignment sales enquiry pack. 

The pack provides information regarding current and pending service charge balances as well as copies of service charge invoices, building insurance and major work planned maintenance information. A fee is payable for each pack.  

Contact the housing service charges team at hsg-servicecharges@croydon.gov.uk for further information.