The law requires that upon request, the landlord must supply a summary of the service charge costs incurred during the last “accounting period” ( usually the last service charge year under the lease) and allow for inspection of documents within certain time limits.
Where a landlord fails without reasonable excuse to comply with either a request for a summary or to inspect supporting documents they commit a summary offence on conviction and are liable for a fine of up to 2,500 (level 4 on the standard scale).
The local housing authority, usually through the Tenancy Relations Officer, has the power to bring proceedings at the magistrates’ court, or they can be brought by the leaseholder privately. Any prosecution must be presented to a magistrate within 6 months of the date of the offence.
Please note that local housing authorities are exempt from prosecution.
More information you might find useful:
- Service Charges and other issues: Summary of service charges accounts
- Resolutions for service charge disputes
- More Frequently Asked Questions on Service Charges – Management
- Download a template for the leaseholder’s request for inspection of supporting accounts, receipts etc. under section 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
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