Understanding the Service Charge Residential Management Code - A Guide for Landlords and Residents
The Service Charge Residential Management Code, now in its third edition and published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), is a vital resource designed to enhance the management of service charges in residential properties in England. This Code is approved by the Secretary of State and outlines best practices that promote transparency, fairness, and accountability between landlords and leaseholders.
This article aims to clarify key aspects of the Code for both landlords and residents, offering insights into their respective roles, rights, and responsibilities.
Section 20 - Why it matters, why it should be followed, and what to do when it isn’t.
This blog explores Section 20 of the UK's Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, which requires landlords to consult with tenants before spending money above a certain amount on major works or service charges. Here we discusses the steps landlords must take to adhere to Section 20 guidelines, as well as the repercussions for landlords who fail to comply. It also includes a case study of a housing provider that failed to follow the guidelines and the actions taken by the tenant to challenge the provider's compliance. The blog concludes with advice for tenants who believe their landlords are not following Section 20 guidelines and how they can challenge them in the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).