Originally published 4 July 2025; updated 23 October 2026.
When this story first appeared, the government had opened a consultation on leasehold charges and the standards expected of property managers. The position has since moved on. The consultation response, updated in July 2026, sets out measures the government intends to implement in England to improve service-charge transparency and change how leaseholder litigation costs can be recovered. It also says further responses are still due on some proposals, including mandatory qualifications for managing agents.
The planned transparency package includes a standardised annual report about a building’s condition and planned major works, clearer service-charge demands and more information that leaseholders can request. The government also plans standardised service-charge accounts and clearer disclosure about building-insurance arrangements. These are intended changes, not all current legal requirements: the response says regulations will be laid later in 2026, with leaseholders and some social tenants expected to start seeing changes during 2027.
The litigation-cost changes are also in the government’s implementation plan. The response says recovery of litigation costs through service charges will require court or tribunal approval, with safeguards and limited exceptions. The measures are to be delivered through legislation and statutory instruments. Until those changes commence, residents should check the rules and documents that apply to their own lease and seek independent advice for a dispute.
Other subjects from the consultation are on a different track. The government says it will respond separately on proposals concerning major works, reserve funds and managing-agent qualifications. Its July response did not make those proposals law. Then, on 29 September 2026, MHCLG announced its intention to introduce independent regulation of property agents, including a licensing and qualification framework. The department said it would bring forward the changes and provide more detail later; the announcement itself does not mean a new regulator or licensing system is already operating.
For leaseholders, the practical step now is to keep service-charge demands, budgets, accounts, insurance information and correspondence together. Ask the landlord or managing agent for an explanation of a charge and use the existing leasehold advice or dispute routes where appropriate. For property managers, the announcements signal a direction of travel: clearer reporting and greater professional oversight are planned, but the exact duties and commencement dates depend on the legislation and regulations.
The central point is to distinguish a policy announcement from an enforceable rule. The 2025 consultation has produced a government implementation plan, and newer announcements add plans for broader regulation. Residents should verify the latest commencement information before relying on a new protection, while providers should monitor the statutory instruments and detailed guidance as they appear.
Sources: MHCLG, Government response to the Strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services consultation, updated 15 July 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-leaseholder-protections-over-charges-and-services-consultation/outcome/government-response-to-the-strengthening-leaseholder-protections-over-charges-and-services-consultation ; MHCLG, Government goes further to protect leaseholders, 29 September 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-goes-further-to-protect-leaseholders