Insights & Guides

    Block Management & Leasehold Insights

    Practical guides on block management, RTM, service charges, leasehold management and residential property operations across Romford, East London and Essex. Written by people who actually manage residential blocks.

    Topical clusters

    Where we have a body of work on a single topic, we group it into a hub. Useful if you want the full picture rather than a single article.

    Topic hub

    Section 20 - major works consultation

    Seven linked guides covering the law, timelines, emergency works, RTM-led consultations, end-to-end project management and a Stratford-specific view.

    Open the hub

    Latest guides

    24 articles
    Compliance

    New Cladding Funding for Buildings Under 11 Metres: What RMC and RTM Directors Need to Know

    New government funding is available for eligible residential buildings under 11 metres with unsafe cladding. Eligibility, FRAEW requirements, the 9 October 2026 deadline and what directors should do.

    19 August 2026Read guide
    Block Management

    How Much Does Block Management Cost in East London?

    Honest, plain-English guide to block management fees in East London: typical per-unit costs, what is included, what is not, and how to compare quotes properly.

    22 May 2026Read guide
    RTM & Leasehold

    What Is an RTM Company Responsible For?

    What a Right to Manage company is responsible for after acquisition: the management functions that transfer, what stays with the freeholder, and the legal duties of RTM directors.

    22 May 2026Read guide
    Block Management

    How to Change Managing Agent for a Residential Block

    Step-by-step guide to switching managing agent for a residential block in East London: notice periods, handover, common pitfalls and how to avoid losing money in the transition.

    22 May 2026Read guide
    Compliance

    Fire Safety Responsibilities in London Apartment Blocks

    Plain-English guide to fire safety duties in London residential blocks: who the Responsible Person is, what the FRA covers, what the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 added, and how the Building Safety Act fits in.

    22 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    What Is Section 20 Consultation?

    Clear explanation of Section 20 consultation in leasehold blocks: when it applies, the three-stage process, what leaseholders can do, and what happens if a landlord gets it wrong.

    22 May 2026Read guide
    Compliance

    BSR Registration Explained for Residential Blocks

    What BSR registration means for higher-risk residential buildings in London: who must register, what the safety case requires, ongoing duties and how to prepare.

    22 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    Common Service Charge Problems in Leasehold Blocks

    The most common service charge problems in leasehold blocks - missing information, late accounts, unreasonable charges, Section 20B issues - and how to deal with them.

    22 May 2026Read guide
    Block Management

    What Makes a Good Block Managing Agent?

    Practical signals of a good block managing agent - and the warning signs of a poor one. Written for leaseholders, RTM directors and freeholders in East London choosing or replacing an agent.

    22 May 2026Read guide
    Compliance

    Fire Safety Responsibilities in East London Apartment Blocks

    A practical guide to who is responsible for fire safety in East London apartment blocks, what the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Act 2022 changed, and what RTM directors and freeholders need on file.

    25 May 2026Read guide
    RTM & Leasehold

    Common RTM Issues in East London Residential Blocks

    The recurring Right to Manage problems we see in East London blocks - qualifying tests, mixed-use complications, freeholder pushback, handover gaps - and how to work through them.

    25 May 2026Read guide
    Block Management

    Managing Older Residential Blocks in Ilford

    What freeholders and RTM directors of older Ilford blocks should be watching: legacy compliance gaps, ageing communal infrastructure, and how to plan a sensible programme of works.

    25 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    What Stratford Leaseholders Should Know About Section 20

    A focused guide for Stratford leaseholders on how Section 20 consultation works, what to expect from the consultation in a new-build or higher-risk building, and what you can challenge.

    25 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    Section 20 Timelines: How Long Does Consultation Actually Take?

    A realistic timeline for Section 20 consultation in East London blocks - 30-day notice periods, observation windows, contractor estimates and the practical reality on top.

    26 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    Emergency Section 20 Works and Tribunal Dispensation

    When urgent works in a residential block cannot wait for the full 60-day consultation, the Tribunal can grant dispensation. Here is how it works and what evidence is needed.

    26 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    Section 20 for RTM Companies: Who Consults, Who Approves and How

    How Section 20 consultation works when a Right to Manage company holds the management functions - who serves the notices, how directors should approve major works, and the practical reporting that keeps leaseholders comfortable.

    26 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    How to Run a Major Works Project: A Practical Guide for RTM and RMC Directors

    How RTM and RMC directors plan, budget, tender and administer a major works project around the Section 20 consultation, from scoping to final account.

    26 May 2026Read guide
    Compliance

    Building Safety Act: What Counts as Cladding Remediation?

    A recent Upper Tribunal decision clarifies the scope of cladding remediation under the Building Safety Act - and why safe façade work often extends beyond the visible cladding.

    11 July 2026Read guide
    RTM & Leasehold

    Can an RTM Company Change an Unsatisfactory Lease?

    How recent Tribunal decisions may help RTM Companies overcome outdated lease provisions that prevent effective building management.

    11 July 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    Does Section 20 Apply to Professional Fees?

    Clear guidance for RTM Companies, RMCs and Freeholders on whether surveyors, engineers, architects and project managers require Section 20 consultation.

    11 July 2026Read guide
    Block Management

    Insurance Commissions in Residential Block Management: What Leaseholders Should Know

    How insurance commissions can work in residential block management, why transparency matters, and how East Valley approaches buildings insurance on the blocks we manage.

    20 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    Section 20 Notices Explained for Leaseholders & Residential Blocks

    A plain-English guide to when Section 20 consultation applies, the three-stage process, what leaseholders can challenge and what happens when it's done wrong.

    16 May 2026Read guide
    RTM & Leasehold

    The Right to Manage Process, Step by Step

    How leaseholders take over the management of their block from the freeholder, the qualifying tests, the notices, and how long it really takes.

    16 May 2026Read guide
    Service Charges

    Service Charge Disputes: A Practical Guide for Leaseholders

    What you can challenge, how to ask for a breakdown, when to involve the First-tier Tribunal, and how to resolve disputes without falling out with neighbours.

    16 May 2026Read guide

    Need help with a block, an RTM, or a service charge issue?

    We manage residential blocks and estates across Romford, East London and Essex. Speak to us for a straightforward, plain-English conversation.

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