Leaseholders' guide – what you need to know - Section 20 consultation

What is a Section 20 consultation?

If the council plans to do major repairs or sign long-term service contracts that will cost you more than:

• £250 for one-off work, or
• £100 per year for ongoing services,

we are legally required to consult you first. This process is called a Section 20 consultation, based on the Landlord and Tenant Act.

How the consultation works

You’ll receive up to 3 letters from us:

• Notice of Intention
  We’ll let you know we’re planning a new contract and explain why.
• Notice of Estimates/Proposal
  We’ll either share quotes from companies who bid for the work, or tell you which company we plan to use.

Note: This doesn’t always mean work will be done to your home or block yet.

• Notice of Work (if applicable)
  If work is planned for your property or block, we’ll explain:
  • what the work involves
  • the total estimated cost
  • your share of the cost

Your involvement

• You’ll have at least 30 days to send us any comments or concerns at each stage.
• We’ll review all feedback before making a final decision.
• We can’t consider individual financial situations when deciding, but please contact us if you're worried about costs.

Urgent work

If urgent repairs are needed to prevent damage or danger, we may start quickly. We’ll still keep you informed as much as possible.

After the work

Once the work is finished, we’ll send you a final breakdown of costs and your share.

During the work

If you notice any issues while work is happening, please let us know straight away so we can fix them.