PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Leasehold: Property Management Companies (30 January 2015)

Leaseholders have existing wide-ranging rights to avoid or resolve disputes where the management of their property is concerned.

Supported by two Codes of Management Practice, these include exercising the right to take over the management of their block; buying the freehold from the landlord; seeking the appointment of a manager from the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, and being consulted upon and challenging service charges.

Property managers must also belong to one of three approved redress schemes. This provides leaseholders with a way of resolving many of the day-to-day disputes that occur, without resorting to a Tribunal or court.

We are also looking at what further support can be offered to leaseholders. This includes what can be done to make it easier to gain statutory recognition of a tenants' association; increasing awareness of what it means to be a leaseholder; and updating the existing Codes of Practice.