Barbican Estate other charges

Your water rates are billed by Thames Water separately from your service charges. Generally it is not feasible to install a water meter in Barbican properties, therefore residents can apply to be put on an 'assessed average household charge' which may be at a lower rate than their existing charge.

To apply, write to Thames Water via the address on the back of your bill.

Long lessees are permitted under the terms of the lease to sublet their flats.

The subletting must be of a residential nature and cover a minimum letting period of three months. Holiday lets are not permitted on the Barbican Estate unless specific planning permission is obtained. Planning permission must be obtained for all lets under ninety days.

Sub-lettings must be registered with the Comptroller & City Solicitor. A copy of the tenancy agreement and the required registration fee must be forwarded to the Barbican Estate Office upon commencement of the tenancy. Following registration of the sub-tenancy the Barbican Estate Office will provide the new resident with copies of the latest newsletter and this information pack.

Upon the assignment of a long lease of a Barbican flat it is required by the lease that notice of the disposal and of any new mortgage or legal charge be given to the CoL and a certified copy of the transfer of lease with the required registration fee must be sent to the Comptroller & City Solicitor.

Similarly, the assignment of any long term car parking or baggage store agreement must also be registered with the Comptroller & City Solicitor. Cheques should be made payable to the City of London Corporation. 

Prior to the assignment of a Barbican Lease, prospective purchasers or their solicitors may require information about the property. The Barbican Estate Office will supply on request a copy of the relevant service charge account and a copy of the Blocks of Flats Insurance Summary of Cover, provided authorisation is given by the owner of the flat.

Further information eg cost of routine service charges for both previous and current years and any planned major works is available for a fee payable in advance. Responses to enquiries are made within 10 working days, but for an additional fee responses can be provided within five working days.

Upon the assignment of a long lease of a Barbican flat it is required by the lease that notice of the disposal and of any new mortgage or legal charge be given to the City Corporation and a certified copy of the transfer of lease with the required registration fee must be sent to the Comptroller & City Solicitor.

Long leaseholders who have owned their flat for at least two years are generally entitled to extend the term of their lease by 90 years under the Leasehold Reform, Housing & Urban Development Act 1993 (as amended by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002) ("the 1993 Act"). The right to extend is subject to payment of an appropriate premium.

Most leases on the Barbican Estate are for terms of 125 years from 1 July 1981, except for the following blocks: Cromwell Tower (16 June 1982); Lambert Jones Mews (6 June 1985); Mountjoy House (25 February 1982) and The Postern (16 September 1982).

To apply to extend the term of your lease for a further 90 years, contact the Barbican Estate Office for an application form. To facilitate the process and minimise costs, we request that you seek to agree an appropriate lease extension premium with the Barbican Estate Office before making a formal application to extend your lease. See contact list.

In addition to the lease extension premium you will be required to pay all of the City Corporation's costs, which will include legal fees and valuation costs. Payment of these costs is a requirement of the 1993 Act.

The above is only intended as a guide to the process of extending your lease and any detailed enquiries about the operation of the 1993 Act should be referred to specialist, independent legal advisers or valuers retained by you.

This paragraph does not apply to properties 3-16 Wallside.

Guest accommodation is currently available on the Golden Lane Estate for Barbican Estate residents via the Barbican Estate Office. Note that the City Corporation is under no obligation to provide guest accommodation facilities, and therefore reserves the right to withdraw such facilities at its discretion.

• Bookings should be made in advance particularly for busy periods such as bank holiday weekends.
• Towels, bed linen and tea/coffee facilities are provided.
• All bookings require a 50% deposit paid via cash, card or cheque.
• Keys can be picked up from the Barbican Estate Office during office hours only.