Your Landlords responsibilities will be set out in your lease and will often include:

• Provision of services - for heating, lighting in common areas, cleaning, grounds maintenance etc; caretaker, scheme manager or porters services. Particular care needs to be exercised in the employment of staff who will have statutory employment rights.

• Insurance - obtaining and arranging the insurance of the building.

• Repairs, maintenance and major works - upkeep of the structure of the building, to maintain it in a proper condition for the residents.

• Enforcement of tenants' covenants – for example, regulation of the use of the flats, against sub-letting, business use etc, enforcement of lessees' rights of quiet enjoyment (peaceable occupation) in the event of disturbance by other residents.

Each lease will set out the particular covenants applying. There is not a standard lease, they vary widely and can also be interpreted in many ways.

Breach of the landlord's covenants can lead to legal action by the lessees against the defaulting landlord.

Leases are often complex in form and language, to ensure you understand your responsibilities and that of your landlord it may be wise to discuss it with a solicitor with leasehold experience. For solicitors in your area that have knowledge of leasehold issues go to
www.flat-living.co.uk/services/solicitors.htm