If you are a long leaseholder in a block of flats and are dissatisfied with the way your landlord looks after the building or the amount you pay in service charges, legislation could entitle you appoint an alternative management company of your own choosing.

It is known as ‘The Right to Manage’ or RTM.

Taking control from your freeholder/manager enables you to achieve improved standards at reduced cost and guarantees continuing value for the service charges you pay. As long as at least half of all leaseholders in a block agree to proceed the manager cannot prevent RTM so long as you follow the legal process correcttly. It is not necessary to prove fault by the freeholder or its managing agent. It is not necessary to go to court or a tribunal and it is not necessary to pay compensation. It is an absolute right introduced by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.

Peverel and their related freeholder/agent are gaining a reputation for various tricks to obstruct and delay RTM or other means by which leaseholders can gain control of their own development.  As with everything, we suggest you obtain legal advice.

The Leasehold Advisory Service or LEASE is the government agency dedicated to helping leasholders with all sort of property related issues. They have guides to the law, a detailed explanation of RTM, a team of experts who can provide answers to your specific enquiry, and they maintain a public repository of Tribunal case decisions.  The service is entirely free.

RTMF - The Right to Manage Federation appear to operate a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach with particular experience in helping retirement developments, providing everything that is required throughout the whole process but leaving all management decisions to the democratic vote of RTM leaseholders.