Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 was introduced, together with a raft of other measures, to protect the interests of tenants (leaseholders). The requirements and process have since been amended, most significantly under S151 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, with the secondary legislation to that ‘act’ (Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003) (‘the regulations’) prescribing the process in detail. The regulations also prescribe the notices that must be served and the minimum requirements of the notices.

This document is focussed on the current arrangements, not those introduced under the LTA 1985. It is intended to help providers through the process and is split up into:

• Part one – a guide including a flow chart and supporting guidance to ensure you go through the right process and consider the right questions
• Part two – a toolkit based on positive practice for you to self-assess yourself against to ensure you have the right processes in place.