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  1. Home
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  3. Shared ownership

Shared ownership

In this section

  1. What is Shared ownership?
  2. Eligibility criteria for Shared Ownership
  3. Costs to Consider When Buying a Shared Ownership Home
  4. You are here: Repairs and improvements
  5. Buying More Shares in Your Property
  6. Selling your Shared Ownership home

Repairs and improvements

New build shared ownership properties usually come with a defects period which lasts for 1 year after the property was handed over to Rotherham Council.

If the property is within the defects period, any defects should be directed to Rotherham Council to raise with the developer. Please be advised that defects are different to repairs, and anything that you break would be your responsibility to repair.

After the initial defect period is over, all repairs on your property will be your responsibility as the homeowner.

In most situations, you will require permission if you would like to make home improvements. You can decorate or paint without requiring permission, however any larger changes would require written permission from your landlord before work can commence.

Responsibilities

Shared ownership flats

Your responsibility Rotherham Councils responsibility
Internal decoration Communal gardens and paths, fences, gates and steps
Internal repair and maintenance Unadopted roads, pathways and streetlights
Internal doors Communal car parking spaces
Glass in windows Individual flat front doors
Internal plaster, floorboards,tiling, wall coveringsa and floor coverings All internal communal areas, including communal floor coverings and communal wall coverings
Radiatiors Roof and roof space
Boilers Communal boilers
Water and sanitary equipment Communal aerial, lighting and radiators
Gas and electical products Fire alarms and emergency lighting
Pipes, drainage and wiring External decoration
Light fixtures and fittings (Including bulbs, sockets, switches and fuses) Pipes, drains and wires passing through communal areas
Kitchen fixtures and fittings (including cookers) Door entry systems
Bathroom fixtures and fittings Lifts
Gas or electric fire (including fire surround) Communal windows and doors
Door frames and skirting boards Balconies
Contents insurance Any other communal facilities available
  Arranging building insurance (shared owners / leaseholders pay through the service charge)

Shared owneship house

Your responsibility Rotherham Council's responsibility
Internal and external decoration Communal garden s and associated fences, gates and steps
Internal and external repair and maintenance (including structural work) Unadopted roads, pathways and streetlights
Internal and external doors and windows Communal car parking spaces
Internal plaster, florboards, tiling, wall covering, ceiling coverings and floor coverings Arranging building insurance (Shared owners / leaseholders pay through the service charge) 
Radiators Any other communal facilities that are available
Boilers  
Water and sanitary equipment  
Gas and electrical products  
Pipes, drainage and wires  
Light fixtures and fittings (including bulbs, sockets, switches and fuses)  
Kitchen fixtures and fittings (including cookers)  
Bathroom fixtures and fittings  
Gas or electric fire (including fire surrounds)  
Smoke alarms  
Door frames and skirting boards  
Contents insurance  
Roof and roof space  
Garden area including fences, paths, gates and steps (please refer to your lease for the red line drawings)  
  • Previous page: Costs to Consider When Buying a Shared Ownership Home
  • Next page: Buying More Shares in Your Property

Downloads

  • Empty Homes Plan
  • Housing Services: User Guides

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