Take control of your block — and run it well
Guides to Right to Manage, leasehold reform, service charges and self-management. Written in plain English by people who do this for a living. Information, not legal advice.
Case study: how Marlborough Court reached 62% and took back control
A narrative case study of how one block organised its way to a successful RTM acquisition — the participation slog, the process, and the early wins that made it worthwhile.
Life after the managing agent: a first-year playbook for new RTM directors
You have taken back control of your block. Now what? A month-by-month guide to everything a new RTM director needs to set up, learn, and manage in year one.
Service charge arrears: a fair, lawful way to handle late payers
Unpaid service charges threaten a block's ability to pay its bills. Here is a calm, step-by-step approach to chasing arrears fairly, lawfully, and without destroying neighbourly relations.
Building your first service charge budget: a director's walkthrough
A practical, step-by-step guide for new RTM and RMC directors setting their first annual service charge budget — from listing cost lines to issuing compliant demands.
The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: what 27 January 2026 changed
The government published a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on 27 January 2026. Here is what it sets out, what is still uncertain, and what it means for leaseholders today.
RTM counter-notices: what to do when your freeholder pushes back
A freeholder who disputes your RTM claim must serve a counter-notice within one month. Here is what that means, what grounds they can use, and how a well-prepared claim handles a challenge.
Building safety and compliance: what a self-managing block can't ignore
When leaseholders take over management, they inherit real legal duties. Here is a clear-eyed survey of the compliance landscape every self-managing RTM block needs to navigate.
Mixed-use buildings and RTM: how the 50% rule changed the game
A rule change on 3 March 2025 raised the non-residential floor space limit from 25% to 50%, bringing many flats-over-shops blocks into RTM eligibility for the first time.
Reserve funds and sinking funds: planning for the bill you can't yet see
A well-managed reserve fund means leaseholders never face a sudden, eye-watering demand. Here is how to think about building and maintaining one.
Serving the RTM claim notice: a step-by-step guide
The RTM claim notice is one of the most consequential documents in the whole process. Get it right and your freeholder must respond; get it wrong and the claim can fail entirely.
Commonhold explained: could your block own itself outright?
Commonhold lets flat owners hold their units freehold with no ground rent and no expiring lease. It exists but is barely used. The draft Bill published in January 2026 aims to change that.
Where does the money live? Service charge trust accounts and your legal duties
Service charge money isn't the manager's — it's held on statutory trust for leaseholders. Here's what that means legally and what it requires of RTM company directors.
Service charge transparency is coming: inside the 2025 consultation
The government's 2025 consultation on leaseholder protections proposes standardised demands, annual reports, and higher Section 20 thresholds. Here's what it says and what it would mean.
RTM, RMC or enfranchisement: which route to control is right for your block?
RTM, RMC, and collective enfranchisement are often confused — but they are very different routes with different costs, complexity, and outcomes. Here's how to choose.
What a managing agent actually does — and what it really costs you
Managing agents handle budgets, repairs, compliance and more — but the fees can be opaque. Here's what you're actually paying for, and what the trade-off of self-managing looks like.
How to get to 50%: organising your neighbours for an RTM claim
Reaching the 50% participation threshold is the human challenge at the heart of every RTM campaign. Here's a practical playbook for getting there.
Section 20 explained: the major-works consultation every director must get right
Get the Section 20 consultation wrong and your recovery is capped at £250 per leaseholder, regardless of the actual cost. Here's the complete three-stage process and what directors need to watch out for.
Right to Manage just got cheaper: the 3 March 2025 reforms explained
Three significant RTM changes came into force on 3 March 2025, cutting costs and opening up more buildings. Here's exactly what changed and what it means in practice.
Does your block qualify for Right to Manage? The 2026 eligibility checklist
Before you form an RTM company, you need to know your block qualifies. This practical checklist covers every eligibility test — updated for the 3 March 2025 changes.
The two-year rule is gone: what it means for lease extensions and freehold purchases
Section 27 of the Leasehold & Freehold Reform Act 2024 abolished the two-year ownership rule on 31 January 2025. Here's what new buyers can and can't do today.
Thinking about taking over your block?
Check if you qualify for Right to Manage — it's free, and takes a few minutes.