Retirement Living
As one of the largest housing groups in the Midlands and East of England, Longhurst Group owns and manages over 23,000 homes. Of those, 4,000 properties are leasehold, shared ownership and retirement living homes.
With a clear set of values that unite the Group, we put our customers first and work in collaboration with partners that share our ambition and vision – Improving Lives.
We have put together some frequently asked questions relating to home ownership. The information contained here is a guide only and will not cover everything. Contact us for more information if your question is not answered here.
If you plan to sell your home and live on a retirement scheme that has a Scheme Manager, please speak to your Scheme Manager in the first instance to advise you are looking to sell and they will provide you with guidance notes, which provide useful information on the selling process and help with placing your property on the market.
If you live on a scheme without a Scheme Manager, please email: retirementliving2@longhurst-group.org.uk confirming your details and a member of the Sales Team will arrange for you to receive a copy of the guidance notes and selling information.
Our promise to you
- We will provide you with guidance notes and selling information to help you place your property on the market
- We will liaise with your appointed estate agent to ensure they have the necessary information to market your property, including, eligibility requirements, the lease term and ongoing service charge costs.
- Once you have found a buyer we will provide them with all relevant information regarding the scheme, which include our responsibilities as landlord and important information regarding their own ongoing responsibilities as detailed within the terms of the lease.
- Our dedicated Sales Team and appointed solicitor will work closely with your own solicitor to ensure they have all the necessary information to progresses your sale as smoothly as possible.
Please note you will be required to appoint a solicitor to act on your behalf and you will be responsible for your own costs and payments upon resale as stipulated within your lease.
Your lease will state whether you can sub-let your property. Some leases allow sub-letting with our permission, whilst other leases do not permit sub-letting.
If you are considering sub-letting your property, look at your lease or contact the leasehold services team for guidance and assistance on 0300 123 1745.
If you are currently sub-letting your property, please click here to fill in this online form.
Internal Improvements
You have the right to make improvements to the fixtures and fittings within your home without having to seek our permission. However, if you wish to carry out improvements that might potentially affect the emergency call system, heating system or structural integrity of your property, you must obtain our written permission before carrying out any works.
External improvements
You are not permitted to make any improvements that would affect the external appearance of your property. However, we will not unreasonably withhold permission for requests to improve access for residents with restricted mobility.
Where we give permission, you are responsible for ensuring that the work complies with any necessary building regulations, planning and health and safety legislation or other requirements.
Please click here to request permission, to make alterations to your home.
Usually, your lease will say whether you are allowed to keep a domestic pet at your property.
The lease requires you to seek permission from us to keep a domestic pet at your property. To submit a request for permission, click here.
To find out more about buildings insurance, please click here.
It is your responsibility to purchase contents insurance, this is not covered in your lease.
Contents insurance is designed to help protect your possessions. No matter how careful you are, there’s always a risk that your belongings could be broken, damaged or stolen so home contents insurance can help provide peace of mind.
If you require a copy of your service charge budget or have a query regarding your service charge please complete this online form.
You can view and download your residents handbook and purchaser’s information pack here.
How to pay your service charges
We offer a wide range of payment methods to make it easy for you to pay your service charge. We can also offer support to help you manage your payments if you are experiencing financial difficulty.
Payment methods
Direct Debit
If you would like to set up a direct debit please call us on 0300 123 1745 and ask for the Leasehold team, who will set this up over the phone. Alternatively you can to request a direct debit form below.
Please complete our online form to request a direct debit form.
One-off payment
Please call us on 0345 608 8006 to make a one-off payment.
Do you need support?
You can call our customer service team on 0345 608 8006 if you are experiencing issues with paying your service charge.
They can also help you with the following:
- Discuss your service charge account
- Find out more about any of the ways to pay your service charge
- Get advice on benefits you may be entitled to
- Request a service charge statement
- Get access to independent, free organisations that can give you budgeting and debt advice.
