Leasehold Clarity

Readiness check

Is your building ready to switch?

A simple self-assessment to help you understand whether you and your fellow leaseholders are ready to take control. Answer yes or no to fifteen questions. Nothing is stored or sent.

0 of 15 answeredYes counts as one tick

Section 1 of 5

Governance & People

The foundation of any successful switch is the right people: a small, committed group willing to take responsibility and decide on behalf of all residents.

1. Engaged directors

Do you have at least two or three leaseholders willing and available to act as resident directors, attend meetings and take on formal responsibilities?

2. Resident alignment

Are residents broadly agreed that management needs to improve, and supportive of a leaseholder-led approach?

3. Decision-making willingness

Is there genuine willingness in the group to take responsibility for decisions, including contracts, finances and compliance?

Section 2 of 5

Legal Position

Understanding your legal structure is critical. Many buildings already have a Resident Management Company, in which case no new entity is needed. An RTM company is only needed where there is no RMC and leaseholders want to acquire management formally.

4. RMC already exists?

Does your building already have a Resident Management Company in the lease or title structure? If so, you may already have the legal vehicle to self-manage.

5. RTM route available?

If there is no RMC, are you open to forming a Right to Manage company under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002? It is a statutory right for qualifying buildings.

6. Leases are standard

Are your leases broadly standard and enforceable, without unusual clauses that might complicate a move to self-management?

Section 3 of 5

Financial Awareness

Transparency about money is one of the most common reasons leaseholders seek change. How your service charge is managed now, and whether residents feel in control of it, is a key indicator.

7. Clear accounts available

Do you currently receive clear, itemised service charge accounts and year-end statements that are easy to understand and verify?

8. Concerns about costs

Are there existing concerns among leaseholders about the level of service charges, unexplained spending or a lack of competitive tendering for works?

9. Value transparency

Would residents value full, up-to-date visibility of how service charge funds are budgeted and spent, including individual line items?

Section 4 of 5

Operations

Day-to-day operations are where most leaseholders feel a poor agent most acutely. Do you have the foundations, or the appetite, to take them over?

10. Existing contractors

Are there contractors already serving the building, such as cleaners, maintenance and lift engineers, whom you would be happy to keep under a new structure?

11. Recurring issues

Are there persistent unresolved maintenance issues, slow response times or poor communication that have eroded confidence in your current agent?

12. Contractor control

Would you prefer direct control over which contractors are appointed, how they are instructed and how their performance is reviewed?

Section 5 of 5

Mindset

The most important ingredient is the right mindset: a genuine belief that your building can be managed better, and a collective willingness to make it happen.

13. Belief in better

Do you believe your building could be managed more effectively, more economically and more responsively than it is now?

14. Active participation

Are you, and at least a core group of fellow leaseholders, ready to take a more active, informed role in how your building is run?

15. Desire for transparency

Is the desire for transparency, accountability and real control a shared priority across your leaseholder community?

Next step

Want a plan for your building?

Every building is different. Talk to us about a switching plan based on your leases, your governance and your timeline.

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