Manage your block like a professional agent

A Section 20 consultation is a statutory process under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 that must be followed before carrying out qualifying works costing more than £250 per leaseholder. It involves three stages: a notice of intention, obtaining estimates, and a notice of estimates — each with a minimum 30-day consultation period. Failing to follow the process correctly can mean the costs are capped at £250 per leaseholder regardless of actual expenditure.

Service charges are typically split between leaseholders based on the percentage share specified in each lease. Check your individual leases for the apportionment — common bases include equal shares, floor area ratios, or rateable values. Add up all budgeted costs for the year (insurance, maintenance, reserves, management), then multiply by each unit's lease percentage to calculate individual demands.

Year-end service charge accounts should follow RICS/ICAEW guidance on service charge accounting. They must show income received, expenditure by category, surplus or deficit carried forward, and the reserve fund balance. Accounts should be prepared on an accruals basis and made available to all leaseholders within six months of the accounting year end.

Start with a formal written demand showing the amount owed, the period it covers, and the lease clause requiring payment. Follow up with reminder letters at 14-day and 30-day intervals. If payment is not received, you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for a determination that the charges are payable. The 18-month rule under Section 20B means demands must be issued within 18 months of the costs being incurred.

RMC directors are responsible for managing the building on behalf of all leaseholders. Key duties include: budgeting and collecting service charges, arranging building insurance, maintaining common parts, complying with health and safety regulations, filing a confirmation statement with Companies House, following Section 20 consultation procedures for major works, and keeping proper accounts. Directors have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the company and its members.

Section 20B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires that service charge demands must be served within 18 months of the costs being incurred. If a demand is not served within this window, the leaseholder is not liable to pay — unless they were notified in writing within the 18-month period that costs had been incurred and a demand would follow. This rule exists to prevent landlords from accumulating large unexpected bills.

LevyBoard is currently in development. Join the waitlist to be notified when it launches and to receive early-bird pricing. The platform is designed to be affordable for volunteer-run blocks — priced for directors, not enterprise property managers. Waitlist members will hear about launch pricing first.

LevyBoard is built by Crocker Digital Ltd (Company No. 17008789), a UK-based technology company focused on solving real problems for underserved professional communities. The platform is designed specifically for volunteer directors who manage blocks without professional property management training.

We take data protection seriously. Currently, the only data we collect is your email address when you join the waitlist. This is stored securely and used solely to notify you about the LevyBoard launch. We do not share your data with third parties. Full details are in our privacy policy.