For directors of freehold, RTM and residents' management companies

What applies to your block?

New rules reach resident-run blocks all the time, and many directors only find out when something goes wrong: a missed registration, a fine for an unverified director, or years of 20% VAT on the hallway lights. Answer a few questions and we'll list what may apply to your building, with the dates and what to do.

Takes about five minutes. Nothing you enter is saved. General information for England and Wales first, with a few Scotland and Northern Ireland notes; not legal or tax advice.

The company

Where is the building? EnglandWalesScotlandNorthern Ireland

What kind of company do the directors run? Freehold company owned by the leaseholders (share of freehold)Residents' management company (RMC)Right to manage (RTM) companyCommonhold associationNot sure

Does a managing agent work for the building? No, the directors run itYes, a full managing agentOnly for accounts or collections

Does the agent hold the service charge money in its own accounts? YesNoDon't know

Who arranges the buildings insurance? Our companyOur managing agent, for the companyA separate freeholder (for example in an RTM block)Don't know

The building

Height and age decide most of the fire and building safety duties. Height is from ground level to the top floor surface; your fire risk assessment usually states it.

How many flats?

How many storeys above ground?

How tall is it? Under 11 metres (usually 1 to 4 storeys)11 to 18 metres (usually 5 or 6 storeys)18 metres or more (usually 7 storeys or more)Don't know

When was it built or converted? Before 20002000 to June 2022After June 2022Don't know

Is it a converted house or building, rather than purpose-built flats? YesNoDon't know

Are there shops, offices or other non-residential parts? YesNo

Do the outside walls have cladding (panels, render systems or timber)? NoYes, no known problemYes, and it has been flagged as a riskDon't know

Does the building have balconies? YesNo

What does the fire risk assessment say residents do in a fire? Stay put unless affectedEveryone leaves when the alarm soundsDon't know

Are there lifts? YesNo

Do cleaners, caretakers or other staff work in the shared areas? YesNo

Heating, water and power

Shared supplies bring their own rules: heat networks, VAT and the Climate Change Levy, and water hygiene.

How are the flats heated or given hot water? Each flat has its own boiler or heatersA shared boiler or plant room serves the flatsHeat comes from a wider network outside the buildingDon't know

Who owns the plant and bills residents for heat? Our company, through the service chargeAn energy company that bills residents directlyDon't know

Is it a conversion with one boiler of 45 kW or less? YesNoDon't know

Is there a separate electricity supply for the shared areas (hallway lights, lift, door entry)? YesNoDon't know

Whose name is that bill in? Our companyOur managing agentA separate freeholderA previous agent or ownerDon't know

Are there shared water tanks or shared hot water? YesNoDon't know

Solar panels None, and no requestsShared panels on the roofLeaseholders have asked about balcony or plug-in panelsBoth

Parking and lettings

Is there off-street parking? NoYes, spaces allocated to flatsYes, shared parking

Electric vehicle chargers NoneShared chargers only residents can useChargers visitors, staff or the public can useBeing planned or requested

Do any leaseholders let their flat to tenants? NoYes, some flats are letDon't know

Does the company itself own and let a flat (for example a caretaker’s flat)? YesNo

"Don't know" is a fine answer: we'll list the item as one to check rather than guess.

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