Other Property and Land Services

Renting Garages

We have garages located in the Northwich, Winsford, Frodsham, Weaverham and surrounding areas. These aren’t just for our residential tenants – even if you don’t rent a home from us, you can still apply to rent a garage. 

You can rent a garage plot and put your own garage on it (or use it as a parking space), with rent from as little as £10 per week.

Please note there may not always be a garage available in your preferred area and on receipt of your application you may be added to the waiting list until one becomes available, at which point we will contact you.  

Apply here - Click here to download the garage application form and email to TenancyServicesAdmin@wvht.co.uk or contact 0300 303 9848.

If there is an area of our land that you wish to use/occupy or have access across then we may be able to grant permission to do this. Permission is granted by way of a Licence Agreement. This may also be an option where you have applied to buy some land but this has been refused.

A Licence Agreement does not give you a legal interest in the land, but it gives you a right to occupy and use it or to have access over it.  The Agreement is usually renewed on an annual basis and an annual Licence fee will be payable. The Licence can be terminated by either party by giving notice under the terms of the agreement. The process for setting up a Licence Agreement is similar to that for buying land but the fees are much lower.

Licences for use and occupation

This type of licence agreement may be suitable for the following:

• To use land adjacent to your property for additional garden land; and
• To use land adjacent to your property for parking private motor vehicles.

Licences for access over our land

You may need to cross our land to obtain access to your land for example; you may need to cross one of our garage sites to get access to your property either by car or on foot.

If you have a gate that opens onto our land and you use that for access then you need to have a Licence Agreement.

For example, you may have a driveway on your property but need to cross our land to get to that driveway.

(Please note that all relevant consents must be attained before any alterations should take place)

What are the fees?

Licence Fee table

Licence		Fee
Licence for Use and Occupation		Dependent upon size of land
Licence for Access	Vehicular	£126.08 p.a.
	Pedestrian	£63.04 p.a.
	Admin fee (one-off)	£60 + VAT

 

How do I apply?

Please complete the application form below. Send the completed application form and plan of the area in question to the following address;

Legal Team

Weaver Vale Housing Trust

Gadbrook Point

Rudheath Way

Northwich

Cheshire

CW9 7LL

Click here to download the application form.

Alternatively you can email the application form and plan to legal@wvht.co.uk.

For more information, you can contact Chris Roberts on 01606 813581.

 

 

If you wish to purchase land from us please complete this application form and return it to:

Weaver Vale Housing Trust,

Gadbrook Point

Rudheath Way

CW9 7LL

Alternatively, you can email the form to legal@wvht.co.uk.

For more information, you can contact Chris Roberts on 01606 813581.

What we need:

• Completed application form; and
• A plan outlining the area you wish to purchase.
• £20 admin fee

What will happen next?

• Upon receipt of your letter if we cannot establish the boundaries of the land from your drawing/sketch we will send you another plan to mark.
• Once we have established the boundaries of the site we will make enquiries within the Trust as to whether the land can be sold.
• If there are no objections, we will begin the valuation process.

If we are able to sell the land to you, you will be responsible for all associated costs including but not limited to:

• Valuation fee –  the cost at present is approximately £200 + VAT;
• Plans preparation – minimum £100 plus VAT;
• Our legal costs which are likely to be in the region of £500 plus VAT;
• Your own legal fees;
• Land registry fee; and
• The purchase price.
• £20 admin fee

Why might the Trust refuse to sell?

Please be aware that sometimes we are unable to sell certain areas of land. This may be because, for example:

• We do not own the land you wish to purchase – we will check this when we receive your letter and will let you know if this is the case.
• It is a green area on an estate.
• We may have plans to develop the area.

Please note that we are not required to disclose the reasons if we refuse to sell a piece of land.

Introduction

This section is designed to provide information for both prospective and existing leaseholders. Many of our leaseholders are first time buyers for whom owning a property is a new venture.

Please remember that if you experience any problems with your lease, you should always begin by referring to your lease or seek independent legal advice.

What is a lease?

A lease is a formal document which is the contract between you, as the leaseholder and us, as the freeholder. When you sign the lease or take over an existing lease when you buy your property, you are agreeing to certain responsibilities and so are we.

Can the lease be changed?

The lease will generally allow for the services and charges to be changed during the period of the lease. However, in general the conditions of the lease can only be changed if we both agree to the changes, or by the direction of a court or First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).

Will I pay service charges?

Under the terms of the Trust's leases leaseholders are required to contribute towards a service charge. The service charge is the amount paid by the leaseholder towards the day-to-day running costs of the block of flats, and a share of the costs of any major repairs. The charge represents the leaseholders’ share of the expenses for the maintenance, repair, insurance and management of the building. The Trust is legally required to collect service charges from leaseholders.

The service charge is likely to cover, where applicable:

• Grounds maintenance
• Building maintenance
• Management and administration costs
• Insurance
• Communal electricity.

You will be sent an annual invoice for your service charge, but if you would prefer to pay by installments this can be arranged.  

What about ground rent?

Depending on the terms of your lease, you may also be required to pay a ground rent of £10.00 per year. You will be sent an invoice for this.

What if the leaseholder doesn't pay?

We will contact you to try and establish the reason for non-payment. A payment agreement can be reached to pay by installments if necessary. We will only consider taking formal action where this fails. We may then consider contacting your mortgage company or referring the matter to a Debt Collection Agency and/or First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).

What if the leaseholder fails to do what they are responsible for?

We will contact you to discuss the matter and try to sort it out. We will only take formal action against you if this fails. On occasions we must take more action, for example, if you fail to carry out a necessary repair which may affect people's health and safety or cause a nuisance.

What if the Trust fails to carry out its duties?

Please contact the home ownership team on 01606 813 582 at first instance to report your concerns. The home ownership team will try to resolve matters on your behalf.

As a leaseholder you could make a formal complaint under our complaints procedure.

I bought my flat but now I want to sell?

Please contact the home ownership team on 01606 813 582 in the first instance. Your lease will also make reference to a sale on.

If you received a discount on the purchase and depending upon when you sell you may need to repay some or all of the discount. In some instances, this may be higher than the amount granted at the time of the sale depending on the legislation at that time and the current value of your home. The home ownership team will be able to advise you on this and the process you should follow. 

Can I sublet my home?

Your lease will tell you if you need permission to sublet your home.

What repairs is the Trust responsible for?

Generally we are responsible for the outside of your property, the main structure and any shared areas and services.

However, please refer to the lease which will set out the repairing responsibilities.

If major works are required to the items for which the Trust is responsible, the Trust has to follow a legislative process called Section 20 which will ensure that you can make observations to the Trust about the major works.

How do I report a repair?

Please ring the Repairs team in the first instance on 0300 303 9848.  This number may also be used outside normal working hours for emergencies. You can also report a repair in person at our office.  If you experience difficulty in reporting a repair, please contact the Home Ownership Team on 01606 813582.

What repairs is the leaseholder responsible for?

Although we own the structure of the building in which you live, you as a leaseholder will be responsible for the parts of the dwelling that are not classed as communal or shared areas. These include:

• Individual heating systems and appliances
• Internal ceilings
• Internal doors
• All plaster and other surfaces to all floors, walls and ceilings within your home
• All plumbing and electrical services in your home
• Internal decorations
• Individual gardens

Please check your lease for further detail.

Do I need permission to carry out repairs/improvements?

Please refer to your lease but some works will require permission which should be sought in writing from the Trust.

You may require our formal consent to alterations, for which fees are payable. Please contact us for details.

Contact us

For further information on this area please contact us on 01606 813 582 or email legal@wvht.co.uk.

We own 36 commercial premises, in 7 locations.

Rents for our commercial premises are independently valued and based on comparable evidence of similar properties in the same area. Rent is exclusive of utility costs, business rates and contents insurance.

We prefer to grant long leases, of 5 years or more, but we realise it may be difficult for new businesses to commit to this. We are, therefore, willing to consider each case individually, but the shortest lease that we will grant is two years.

We impose strict trade use restrictions in each lease we grant. This prevents existing products or services on a parade being repeated in a new lease.

Our leases are “full repairing and insuring” leases, which means that the tenant is liable for all repairs, including roofs, structural walls and foundations (unless the damage is caused by something for which we have insurance).

If you do not wish to continue your lease, you will need to “assign” it. This means transferring the lease to a new tenant. We will consider your request but will require bank and trade/ personal references from the proposed new tenant.

If you would like to register to go on our waiting list for a commercial premises please click here to print the form, complete it with your details and return it to us at our main office address, or send it by email to katie.steele@wvht.co.uk

If we agree to grant a lease to you, you will be responsible for all associated costs including:

• Valuation fee for the rent –approximately a minimum of £600 plus VAT.
• Plans preparation (if applicable)  – approximately £100 plus VAT
• Our legal costs which are likely to be in the region of £595 plus VAT.
• Your own legal fees.
• Land registry fee (if the lease is registrable).
• Stamp duty land tax (if applicable).

For more information on renting shops, please contact Katie Steele by phone 01606 813349 or by email katie.steele@wvht.co.uk