England announced a service-charge reform timetable on 11 November 2026, subject to Parliamentary approval. Read the announcement.

The planned dates

  • 1 April 2027: stronger information-request rights, including earlier years. Landlords would need court or tribunal approval to recover legal costs; leaseholders could seek their own costs, without guaranteed recovery.
  • 1 November 2027: clearer insurance and administration-charge information across private and social landlords, with protection against unreasonable insurance arrangement fees. Private landlords would also provide standardised demands, accounts and annual reports.
  • 1 November 2028: councils and housing associations would introduce those standardised demands, accounts and annual reports for their leaseholders.

These are future measures, not rights introduced today. Do not build a purchase budget around assumed savings from the reforms.

What to check before buying now

GOV.UK's current service-charge guidance explains that the lease governs what can be charged. Existing leaseholders already have rights to request a cost summary and supporting documents. Building insurance is usually arranged by the landlord and included in the service charge; it does not cover your belongings.

For a purchase, ask your conveyancer to examine the lease, recent charge statements and accounts, building insurance, reserve fund and any planned major works. A reserve fund can help pay for substantial repairs, but the latest annual bill alone does not show what future work might cost. Existing GOV.UK guidance also warns that contributions to such funds are not usually refundable when you move.

Record the figures and unanswered questions in the house viewing checklist and read our leasehold buying guide. Keep an unconfirmed major-work cost visible as an unresolved item in the moving budget planner.

Use the household running costs calculator to put recurring charges alongside your other bills. For example, a hypothetical £2,400 annual service charge needs £200 a month in a planning budget, before any separately billed work. That example is arithmetic, not a typical charge or a forecast.

If you already dispute a charge, seek advice on your current position rather than waiting for the proposed reforms. The current official guide warns that a landlord can take court action if you stop paying a charge you owe.