Homeowners

Your lease is a legal agreement that explains your rights and responsibilities as a homeowner.

Your solicitor should have given you a copy when you bought your home. If you've lost it, you can get a copy from the Land Registry or request one from us (a fee applies).

Find out how to extend your lease or buy the freehold of your house in the Lease extension and enfranchisement guide for leaseholders (PDF).

Buildings insurance

If your lease says Riverside arranges your buildings insurance, you'll be covered by our insurance provider, Protector, and the cost will be included in your service charge.

Download the Buildings insurance summary of cover (PDF) to find out what is covered and how to make a claim.

You can't opt out or arrange your own buildings insurance if it's included in your lease.

Contents insurance

Buildings insurance doesn't cover your personal belongings. We recommend arranging your own contents insurance.

Subletting your home

If you're a shared owner, you can't sublet your home.

If you own your home outright, check your lease to see if subletting is allowed and whether you need our permission.

Service charges pay for the shared services and maintenance of your building or estate. If you're a shared owner, you'll also pay rent on the share of your home you don't own.

What does my service charge cover?

Your service charge may include:

• Buildings insurance
• Repairs and maintenance to shared areas
• Cleaning and gardening
• Communal heating, electricity and water
• Car park and estate maintenance

Check your lease to see which services apply to your home.

What is the management fee?

The management fee covers the cost of managing your building and the services you receive. The rest of your service charge pays for the services provided.

How are my charges worked out?

Each year we estimate the cost of services and send you a budget. At the end of the year, we compare this with what was actually spent and adjust your account if needed.

Rent for shared owners

If you're a shared owner, you pay rent on the share of your home you don't own. If you buy more shares in your home (staircasing), your rent will usually reduce.

Manage your account online

Use My Riverside to:

• View your balance
• Check your rent and service charges
• See recent payments

What is Section 20 energy dispensation?

Some services aren't covered by your management fee, so we may charge an administration fee. This could include:

• Selling your home
• Home improvement requests
• Legal notices
• Providing duplicate copies of documents, such as audited accounts

If you think an administration fee is unreasonable, you can challenge it through the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). You can do this before or after you pay the fee.

Current charges (PDF) Tenants rights & obligations (PDF)

If you're a leaseholder living in a block of flats, you may have the Right to Manage. This means you and the other leaseholders can take over the management of your building instead of Riverside. You don't have to prove the building has been poorly managed to apply.

Who can apply?

Your building must meet certain rules:

• It must contain at least two flats.
• At least two-thirds of the flats must be owned by long leaseholders.
• At least 75% of the building must be used as homes.
• At least half of the leaseholders must join the Right to Manage company.

The Right to Manage does not apply to houses.

Find out more

For independent advice about the Right to Manage, visit the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE).

Whether you own your property outright or are a shared owner with us, our consent is usually needed if you wish to re-mortgage to change to a new mortgage provider or to borrow money against your property.

We will require written details from either your mortgage lender or your solicitor, and we’ll work with them throughout the process.

An administration fee is payable for this service.
Contact us to let us know if you are considering re-mortgaging.