Guides for RMC & RTM directors
Practical guides on service charges, Right to Manage, and managing agent accountability - for everyone running a block in England and Wales. Unless a guide says otherwise, it describes the law in England.
Parish Council Buildings and Assets: The Asset Register, Inspections and Maintenance Records
A practical guide for clerks and councillors in England: keeping an asset register that is useful beyond the year end, which building checks the law actually sets, getting quotes the way standing orders expect, and keeping the evidence the annual governance statement rests on.
Read articleThe Church Log Book, Terrier and Inventory: A Churchwardens' Guide to the Building's Records
What the law asks churchwardens in the Church of England to keep, when it goes to the PCC, how the quinquennial inspection and the annual fabric report fit together, and how to keep a record of works and permissions that survives a change of churchwardens.
RTM Company Bank Accounts: The Law, the Rules and the Banks That Say Yes
What bank accounts an RTM company actually needs, the section 42 trust that governs service charge money, the designated account law that never arrived, and which UK banks will open an account for a company limited by guarantee.
You've Just Been Appointed an RMC or RTM Director: The Handover Checklist
The pack to ask for, the questions to put to the outgoing board, and how to read the answers - so you know what condition the building is really in before the first bill lands in your name.
The Developer Handover: Taking Over a New Build RMC Without Inheriting Its Defects
When the housebuilder's directors resign and the residents take the board, what you receive decides the next decade. The documents to demand, the adoption and defects traps, and the questions to put to the developer while they are still answering.
Planned Maintenance for Blocks of Flats: The Cycles, the Case Law and the Plan the Code Now Expects
Gutters, roofs, redecoration cycles and lift contracts: which maintenance intervals are actually law, what tribunals say about blocks that stop planning, and how to build the costed maintenance plan the RICS code now expects.
Service Charge Law: The 8 Provisions Every Leaseholder and RMC Director Should Know
Most service charge disputes are won or lost on procedure, not merits. The eight statutory provisions that decide whether a charge is payable - what each one says, who needs it, and where to read the original.
Licence to Alter: What Leaseholders Can (and Can't) Change in Their Flat
It's your flat, so why can't you just knock a wall through? A plain-English guide to the Licence to Alter - what needs the freeholder's consent, what doesn't, how the process works, and what happens if you skip it.
RMC Director Responsibilities: The Complete Checklist for Blocks in England and Wales
Every duty an RMC director actually carries - Companies House filings, service charge law, Section 20 consultations, building safety, insurance, and records - as one practical checklist with an annual calendar.
Running an RMC: A New Director's & Flat Buyer's Day-to-Day Guide
Just been asked to join the RMC, or bought a flat that comes with a share in one? What you have signed up for, what the company does day to day, what directors are personally on the hook for, and how a well-run board actually operates.
Who Actually Runs Your Building? A Plain-English Guide for Flat Owners in England and Wales
Cut through the legal fog: answer a few quick questions to find out exactly who's responsible for managing your block - and what that means for your rights as a leaseholder.
Property Ombudsman vs First-tier Tribunal: Which Route Should You Take?
When to use the Property Ombudsman vs the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) for leasehold disputes - what each covers, how to prepare, and what evidence you'll need for each route.
Block Management Software vs Spreadsheets vs Portals: What Actually Works for Directors in England and Wales
An honest comparison of block management software, spreadsheets, shared drives, and managing agent portals - so RMC and RTM directors in England and Wales can choose the right tool for their block.
The New Service Charge Code: What Every Leaseholder Needs to Know
The 4th edition of the RICS Service Charge Code is effective from 7 April 2026. Here's what it means for transparency, your rights, and Building Safety Act protections - in plain English.
Directors and RTM Companies: New Duties Under the 4th Edition Service Charge Code
The 4th edition introduces a dedicated Building Safety Act section with accountable person duties, leaseholder cost protections, and stronger service charge governance - here's your action checklist.
Leaseholders' Associations Explained: RTAs, RMCs and What They Can Do For You
The difference between an informal residents' group, a Recognised Tenants' Association, and a Residents' Management Company - and how each one gives leaseholders in England more power over their building.
How to Choose Block Management Software for Your RTM Company
A practical guide for Right To Manage (RTM) directors choosing block management software - what features matter, what to avoid, and how to get started without spending a penny.
10 Questions to Ask Your Managing Agent (And How to Get Answers)
How to hold your residential managing agent accountable, what information you're entitled to request, and what to do when responses are slow or vague.
The RTM Claim Process: Notices, Timeline and What Changes After You Win
The practical mechanics of an RTM claim - forming the company, the Notice of Invitation, the Claim Notice and Counter-Notice timeline, the acquisition date, and managing the handover once you take over.
Understanding Service Charge Demands: A Guide for Leaseholders in England
What's actually in your service charge demand, how to read budget vs actual figures, what Section 20 means for major works, and how to challenge a charge you think is wrong.
Guides & tools
In-depth explainers and free tools for leaseholders taking control of their block.
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