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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.