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England

Service charges

Service charges are payable by tenants and leaseholders for services, repairs, maintenance, improvements, insurance, or costs of management.

This content applies to England & Wales
  • Service charges for leaseholders

    Information on service charges payable by leaseholders for services, repairs, maintenance, improvements, insurance, or costs of management.

  • Rules for service charges

    Several statutes prevent landlords from making late demands and control the level of service charges to keep them reasonable.

  • Liability for service charges

    Tenants must pay service charges, have the right to information about service charges, and may argue for a reduced service charge.

  • Service charge demands

    Landlord must provide certain information and meet the requirements of both the law and the lease for a lawful service charge demand.

  • Payment and protection of service charges

    Service charge amounts, methods and frequency of payments, protection of service charge money, and help for leaseholders on a low income.

  • Challenging service charges

    Circumstances in which it is possible to dispute a service charge and the role of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).

  • Service charges to recover court costs

    Circumstances allowing landlords to pass on the costs of court proceedings to tenants through service charges and possibilities to challenge the amount charged.