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Leasehold law library
The law behind running a block of flats, in plain English. Every entry links to the official text and says whether it is in force, waiting to start, or only proposed.
Acts of Parliament
Building Safety Act 2022
Created the Building Safety Regulator, the higher-risk building regime (18m+ or 7+ storeys), accountable persons, and the leaseholder protections on paying for historical safety defects.
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002
Right to manage, administration charges, ground rent notices, limits on forfeiture, and the original commonhold regime.
Companies Act 2006
The law for every freehold, RMC and RTM company: directors' duties, meetings and resolutions, registers, accounts and Companies House filings.
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
The rules for handling leaseholders' and residents' personal data: lawful basis, transparency, security, retention and data subject rights.
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
Companies House reforms: identity verification for directors and people with significant control, a registered email address, and tougher checks.
Housing Act 1996, section 81
A landlord cannot forfeit a lease for unpaid service or administration charges unless the amount has been agreed, admitted or decided by a tribunal or court.
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
The main statute on service charges in England and Wales: what can be charged, reasonableness, consultation, the 18-month rule, information rights and the summary of rights.
Landlord and Tenant Act 1987
Service charge money is held on trust; demands must give the landlord's name and an address for service; leaseholders' rights of first refusal, to appoint a manager and to vary defective leases.
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024
The latest leasehold reform Act. Some parts are in force (no two-year wait, 50% non-residential limit, RTM costs); service charge transparency and valuation changes are enacted but waiting for regulations.
Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993
The right for flat owners to extend their lease by 90 years and to buy the freehold together (collective enfranchisement).
Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011
Scotland: anyone managing common property for homeowners as a business must register as a property factor and follow the Code of Conduct.
Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004
Scotland: the default rules for managing and maintaining shared parts of a tenement, where the title deeds are silent.
Regulations and rules
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Specific fire safety duties for responsible persons in blocks of flats in England, scaled by building height: fire door checks, resident information and, for taller buildings, wayfinding and plans.
Redress Schemes for Lettings Agency Work and Property Management Work Order 2014
England: anyone doing property management work for clients must belong to a government-approved redress scheme.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The fire safety law for the common parts of blocks of flats: a responsible person must assess fire risk and take precautions.
RTM Companies (Model Articles) (England) Regulations 2009
The prescribed articles of association every right to manage company in England must use.
Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003
The detailed steps for section 20 consultation on major works and long-term agreements: notices, observation periods, estimates and nominations.
Service Charges and Administration Charges (Summary of Rights and Obligations) Regulations 2007
The exact wording that must go with every service charge demand and every administration charge demand in England.
Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013
The procedure rules for leasehold cases at the First-tier Tribunal in England: applications, directions, evidence, hearings and costs.
Cases
Proposed law
Summaries are written by Freeholdpilot and reviewed regularly. Legislation is Crown copyright and reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0; for professional codes and independent guidance we summarise in our own words and link to the original. This is legal information, not legal advice.