Our Services

• Rent
• Tenancy Services
• Getting Involved
• Leaseholder Services
  • Introduction
  • Types of Lease
  • Leaseholders FAQ's
  • Leaseholder Forum
  • Leasehold Service Charge
  • Major Repairs and Improvements
  • Money Matters
  • Service Charge Disputes
  • Getting Involved
  • Rights for Leaseholders
  • How to Bid for Works
  • Gas Servicing
  • Leaseholders Handbook
  • Contact us
• Antisocial Behaviour
• Decent Homes
• Repairs

Getting Involved

We hold a meeting for leaseholders called the Leaseholder Forum, two times a year. One is held on a Saturday morning, the second is held on a weekday evening. The Leaseholder Forum gives leaseholders a chance to meet with other leaseholders and discuss any concerns they have with Ascham Homes staff. For more information please contact the Right to Buy and Leasehold Services team.

Leaseholder Focus Group

Our Leaseholder Focus Group is a group of leaseholders who help us produce documents and policies affecting leaseholders by letting us know their views on the content and format. If you would like to join the Focus Group please contact the Right to Buy and Leasehold Services team.

Contract Panels

Contract Panels are meetings of representatives of Tenants and Residents Associations (TRA’s) for an area of the borough. We have Contract Panels for Chingford, East Walthamstow, West Walthamstow, South Walthamstow, Leytonstone and the Out boroughs (Epping, Billericay and Wickford). 

We consult with Contract Panels over changes to services, our performance and any other issues that may affect residents. Several leaseholders are already involved in TRA’s and also attend the Contract Panel for their area.

If you would like more information about either joining or setting up a TRA please contact Ascham Direct and ask to speak to a Community Development Officer.

Recognised Tenants Associations

A legally Recognised Tenants Association is an association of tenants and leaseholders which has asked for in writing and received, recognition from their landlord under Section 29 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985.

Recognised tenants' organisations have rights to consultation on decisions that affect them, for example:

• changes to management policies
• housing conditions
• housing services
• stock transfer
• and may also qualify for a council grant to meet costs, and for practical help.

In order to qualify for recognition the association will need to be able to show that it has:

• a constitution and officers, at least a chairperson and treasurer
• meetings, including an annual general meeting
• accounts
• membership open to tenants and leaseholders.

A benefit for leaseholders is that a recognised association has rights to consultation about service charges, choice of managing agents and other decisions.

Although none of our TRA’s are legally recognised associations under Section 29 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985, we generally consult with them as if they are legally recognised.