PM gives flat owners new powers to challenge service charges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Nov, 09:01 · Archive

More than three million English leaseholders will gain new powers to challenge service charges from April 2027.

The government has announced reforms to give leaseholders new powers to challenge service charges, which are fees paid to cover maintenance, repair and management of shared building areas. More than three million leaseholders in England will benefit from the changes, which will be introduced in stages from April 2027 to November 2028, subject to parliamentary approval.

From April 2027, leaseholders will be able to request information about their service charges, including details from previous years. Landlords will need good reason to refuse this information. The government says this will give leaseholders a clearer picture of how their building is managed, maintained, repaired and insured. The first stage also strengthens protections against paying a landlord's legal costs when challenging a charge; landlords will need court or tribunal approval to pass on legal costs, whilst leaseholders will gain the right to recover their own legal expenses.

Further measures are planned for November 2027, when leaseholders will receive clearer information about charges, including details of building insurance and administration fees. There will be stronger protections against excessive or unreasonable insurance fees. Private landlords will have to use standardised service charge demand forms and provide financial accounts and annual reports from November 2027, while councils and housing associations have until November 2028 to introduce these changes.

How it is being reported

• PM gives flat owners new powers to challenge 'unfair' service chargesMillions of leaseholders are set to gain new powers to challenge unfair service charges.Somerset County Gazette · 15 Nov, 08:00
• PM gives flat owners new powers to challenge 'unfair' service chargesMillions of leaseholders are set to gain new powers to challenge unfair service charges.Bridgwater Mercury · 15 Nov, 08:00

In this story: UK Government · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Leasehold Advisory Service · Kion Ahadi · England

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log