Leasehold block management explained
If you own a leasehold flat, a managing agent almost certainly runs your building — but who appoints them, what you pay, and what you can do about poor service are often a mystery. This is the plain-English overview, with links to go deeper on each part.
Who manages a leasehold block?
Day-to-day management is usually carried out by a managing agent (block management company), appointed by whoever holds the management responsibility under the lease:
- the freeholder (or their agent),
- a Resident Management Company (RMC) the leaseholders own, or
- a Right to Manage (RTM) company the leaseholders have formed.
Who appoints the agent determines what power you have to change them — see how to switch your managing agent.
What you pay
Leaseholders fund the building through the service charge, which covers repairs, insurance, shared-area upkeep and the agent's management fee. What can be charged is set by your lease, and charges must be reasonable — your key rights are summarised below.
Your rights as a leaseholder
- Service charges must be reasonably incurred, and you can request a written summary of costs (Section 21) and inspect the original invoices (Section 22).
- Major works and long-term contracts usually require Section 20 consultation — failure to consult caps recovery at £250 per leaseholder.
- You can challenge unreasonable charges at the First-tier Tribunal — and ask for a Section 20C order so the freeholder’s legal costs can’t be added to your service charge. (The 2024 Act will make this protection automatic, but those sections are not yet in force.)
- You may be able to take over management via Right to Manage.
Comparing and changing your manager
Accreditation registers tell you who’s allowed to manage, but not how good they are. We combine accreditation, Companies House data and independent reviews so you can judge track record — with no sponsored rankings. See our full guide to vetting a block manager before you shortlist.
This guide is general information about leasehold in England & Wales, not legal advice. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and leasehold law is changing — check your lease and current guidance, or take professional advice, before acting.
Last updated July 2026.