Document downloads - Service charges in residential property
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Service charge residential management code
Published 17 March 2026
Effective from 7 April 2026
The RICS Service Charge Residential Management Code 4th edition was approved by the Secretary of State under section 87(7) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. It applies only to residential leasehold properties in England, but practitioners operating in other parts of the UK are encouraged to follow the best practice guidelines contained in the code.
This code is written to promote desirable practices in respect of the management of residential leasehold property, with the latest edition of the code reflecting recent developments in legislation, such as the Building Safety Act (2022) and the Fire Safety Act (2021), and good practice. Effective property management requires cooperation and a shared understanding of procedures and potential problems.
The code is intended for RICS members and regulated firms acting as landlords, social housing landlords, leaseholders, managing agents, managers and occupiers of leasehold property. Additionally, parts are specifically intended for other parties such as property owners and professional advisers.
The code aims to:
- improve general standards and promote best practice, consistency, reasonableness and transparency in the management and administration of long leasehold residential property
- ensure the timely issue of all documentation including budgets and year end accounts
- reduce the causes of disputes and to give guidance to resolving disputes where these do occur. -
Managing a block of flats: terms of appointment template
Use this template to appoint a block management agent. The standard terms of appointment cover the:
- service to be provided by the agent
- authority of the agent
- client's obligations
- bases of remuneration
- termination and
- liability of the agent.
Basic terms of appointment must be completed by the parties and provision is given to vary the standard terms.
This document template is maintained by Paul Walshe of Awdry Bailey & Douglas.
Disclaimer: Users of this document are responsible for forming their own view as to whether this document and its contents are suitable for use in any particular circumstances. The supply of this document does not constitute legal or other professional advice, nor does it constitute any opinion or recommendation as to how any person should conduct its business or whether any person should or should not enter into any form of contract. Users should, if appropriate, consult their professional advisers as to any such matter. No warranty, express or implied, is given in respect of this document and neither RICS nor the authors shall be liable for any loss or damage of any kind arising directly or indirectly from the use or misuse of this document or from any reliance on it by any person, except to the extent that exclusion of such liability is prohibited by law. -
Commercial property service charge handover procedures
Published: March 2015
Effective from: 27 March 2015
This guidance note covers commercial multi-let property where there is a service charge. It deals with the handover of financial and supplier information between owners and/ or managers.
Superseding the previous information paper of the same name (published in 2011), this guidance note is aimed at property owners and managers and their legal advisers. Its intention is to set out a series of procedures that will apply during any handover period in order to improve the quality of service to the industry’s customers.
This guidance note covers:
- sale of a property
- change of manager and
- example reconciliation statements. -
Administration charges: summary of tenants' rights and obligations
This summary briefly sets out your rights and obligations in relation to administration charges, and must by law accompany a demand for administration charges.
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Service charges: summary of tenants’ rights and obligations (for England only)
This summary briefly sets out your rights and obligations in relation to variable service charges and must by law accompany a demand for service charges (for England only).
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Sample form of rent demand notice (England only)
Since 28 February 2005 any demand for ground rent by a freeholder, or their managing agents, must be made in a ‘prescribed form’ as set out in section 166 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. If the ground rent is not demanded in this prescribed form, and completed in accordance with section 166, the leaseholder is not liable to make payment unless, and until, it is properly demanded.