Frequently Asked Questions

<div class="article-header">Shared Ownership</div> <hr> <div class="panel-group" id="accordion" role="tablist" aria-multiselectable="true">     <div class="panel panel-default">         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingOne" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseOne" href="#collapseOne" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">What Is The Lease?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseOne" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingOne">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">This is the contract between you and Platform Home Ownership and outlines the                     responsibilities of each party. You should seek a copy of the lease from your solicitor on                     completion of the purchase of your home.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingTwo" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseTwo" href="#collapseTwo" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">What To Expect With Rent and Service Charges?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseTwo" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingTwo">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">Your rent, on the share of your home which we own, <u>should be paid in advance                         on the first day of each month.</u> You will also have to pay a service charge. This should be                     paid at the same time as your rent.<br> <b>If you do not pay your rent and service charges, you may                         risk losing your home. You cannot take a break from paying your rent.</b><br> <br> If you are                     having financial difficulties, it is important that you tell us straightaway. We can advise and help                     you if you let us know as soon as possible.<br> Please note, if you have rent arrears of two or more                     months we are required to tell your mortgage lender. They may wish to take action to protect their                     interest in your home.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingThree" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseThree" href="#collapseThree" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">What Are Classed As Repairs?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseThree" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingThree">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">Under the terms of your lease, you are legally responsible for keeping your                     house and garden tidy and in good repair.<br> <br> If you live in a <u>house</u>, all internal and                     external repairs and maintenance are your responsibility. We recommend you invest in regular                     servicing for things like boilers and keep on top of day to day repairs.<br> <br> If you live in an                     <u>apartment</u>, you are responsible for all internal repairs and maintenance only. We are                     responsible for external repairs and repairs to any communal areas or facilities – please report                     these to your housing officer.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingFour" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseFour" href="#collapseFour" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">Can I Make Alterations And Home Improvements?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseFour" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingFour">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">Once your defect period has expired you are free to decorate your home or do                     things like fitting shelves or changing light fittings as you wish.<br> However, if you want to make                     any major alterations and improvements to your home, such as fitting a new kitchen or bathroom or                     building a conservatory, you should get written permission from us before starting the work. We                     always try to be reasonable in considering requests for making improvements, but we also need to be                     sure that any work has the necessary planning approvals or safety certificates, is in keeping with                     the rest of the area and is carried out to good quality standards. This protects both your and our                     investment in your home. In some cases you will also have to get planning or building control                     permissions from your local council.<br> <br> If you make alterations without having all the                     necessary permissions, you will be breaking the terms of your lease agreement. You will also have to                     pay the cost of returning the property to its original condition.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingFive" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseFive" href="#collapseFive" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">Can I Keep A Pet?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseFive" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingFive">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">If you live in a house we are usually quite happy for you to keep a domestic pet                     like a cat or a dog. However, this will depend on the specific terms of your lease. Most apartments                     <u>do not</u> allow any pets.<br> If we do give permission for you to keep a pet, we will expect you                     to look after it responsibly. If your pet causes a nuisance to your neighbours, we may have to ask                     you to remove it from your home.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingSix" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseSix" href="#collapseSix" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">What Are The Fire Safety Requirements In A Communal                     Area?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseSix" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingSix">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text"> If you live in one of our apartment blocks, <b><u>you must keep all communal                             areas</u></b>, such as hallways, entrances, meter and communal cupboards <b><u>clear of any                             personal items</u></b>, including door mats. These areas <b><u>must not</u></b> be used for                     storage of personal belongings or for dumping rubbish as it restricts clear access and poses a very                     serious fire risk. If there is a fire in your building, you need to be able to get out quickly and                     safely.<br> On the advice of the Fire Service, Platform reserve the right to remove any items found                     unattended in the communal areas that potentially cause a fire risk. If you see anything that should                     not be left in a communal area, please report it to us by calling your housing officer or our admin                     team on 0300 123 0898.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingSeven" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseSeven" href="#collapseSeven" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">Can I Buy More Shares In My Home?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseSeven" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingSeven">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">This is called staircasing and the amount you can purchase will depend on your                     lease – contact our office on 0345 4503995 for more information.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingEight" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseEight" href="#collapseEight" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">Can I Sell My Home?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseEight" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingEight">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">You can sell your share of your home at any time, please contact our sales team                     on 0345 4503995 for advice.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingNine" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseNine" href="#collapseNine" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">What If I Have Any Neighbour Disputes?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseNine" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingNine">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">Most people are considerate of each other and problems are not common. However                     you should discuss noise and parking issues with your neighbours in the first instance. For more                     serious matters you should contact your shared ownership officer for advice.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingTen" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseTen" href="#collapseTen" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">What About Refuse                     Collection?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseTen" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingTen">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">Please ensure that no large items of bulky waste are disposed of in the bin                     store area as a charge maybe incurred if items have to be removed.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingEleven" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseEleven" href="#collapseEleven" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">Loft Spaces In Apartments?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseEleven" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingEleven">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">Please note this area has not been demised to the owner of the apartment and                     Platform will not grant permission to store personal items in this area, under any circumstances.                 </div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>         <div class="panel-heading" id="headingTwelve" role="tab"> <a aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="collapseTwelve" href="#collapseTwelve" data-parent="#accordion" data-toggle="collapse"> <i class="accordion_icon fa fa-plus"></i>                 <div class="article-section-header">What About Building                     Insurance?</div>             </a> </div>         <div class="panel-collapse collapse" id="collapseTwelve" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingTwelve">             <div class="panel-body">                 <div class="article-text">Under your lease Platform Home Ownership is responsible for insuring your home                     against damage to the building. You do not need to arrange building insurance with your mortgage                     lender or another insurance company as you are already covered under our policy.<br><br>We charge                     you for this by including the cost in your monthly service charge. The price is highly competitive                     because we arrange buildings insurance for such a large number of homes. We review our insurance                     every year to make sure it continues to offer value for money.<br><br>If you need to make a building                     insurance claim, please contact your housing officer as soon as possible so e can advise you. our                     policy has an excess of £150, which is the amount of any claim that you must pay. For subsidence                     claims the excess is £1000.<br><br>You are responsible for your contents insurance.</div>             </div>         </div>         <hr>     </div> </div> <p>