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Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 sets out specific consultation requirements that freeholders must follow before carrying out major works costing more than £250 per leaseholder. But what actually happens when they don’t follow those rules? The answer is more nuanced — and more favourable to leaseholders — than most people realise. … What Happens If Your Freeholder Didn’t Follow Section 20 Consultation Rules?

You’ve just received a Section 20 consultation notice. Maybe it’s the first one — a Notice of Intention telling you about planned major works. Maybe it’s the second — a Notice of Proposal presenting quotes. Either way, before you do anything else, you need to know what rights you have. They’re more extensive than most … Section 20 Notice Received — Your 5 Rights as a Leaseholder

If you’ve just opened an envelope and found a demand for £20,000, £35,000, or more towards your building’s major works, you’re probably experiencing a very specific combination of feelings: shock, confusion, and a creeping dread about whether you can afford it. We know that feeling — we’ve been there ourselves. Before you do anything else … Got a £20,000+ Major Works Bill? Do This Before You Pay

The words “First-tier Tribunal” can be enough to make most leaseholders give up before they’ve started. It sounds formal, legal, expensive — something you’d need a solicitor and thousands of pounds to navigate. The reality is quite different. The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) is specifically designed to be accessible to unrepresented parties, and leaseholders win … How to Win a Section 20 Dispute at Tribunal Without a Solicitor

One of the most frustrating aspects of receiving a Section 20 major works bill is having no idea whether the figures are reasonable. Construction costs aren’t published on a price list. Labour rates vary by region. Materials fluctuate. So how is a leaseholder supposed to know if £85,000 for roof works is fair, or whether … How Much Should Major Works Cost? UK Rate Guide for Leaseholders

The Section 20 consultation process is supposed to protect leaseholders from being overcharged for major works. In theory, it creates transparency — your freeholder must tell you what they’re planning, get competitive quotes, share them with you, and listen to your observations. In practice, the process is riddled with gaps that managing agents exploit daily. … Section 20 Consultation: What Your Freeholder Is NOT Telling You

That question — “am I being overcharged?” — is the one leaseholders ask us more than any other. Usually they’ve received a major works bill, it seems high, but they have no idea whether it actually is or not. They have no benchmark, no professional to ask, and no quick way to find out. Until … Is My Freeholder Overcharging Me? How to Find Out in 48 Hours

Every year, thousands of leaseholders across the UK open an envelope, see a major works bill for tens of thousands of pounds, and simply pay it. We know that feeling. We were those leaseholders once. What most people don’t realise — and what we’ve spent years helping people understand — is that a huge proportion … How to Challenge a Section 20 Major Works Bill in 2025 (Step-by-Step)