Summary
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 implies repairing obligations into short residential leases and regulates service charges in long leasehold properties. Section 11 implies a covenant by the landlord to keep in repair the structure, exterior, and installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, and heating in leases of less than 7 years. The service charge provisions protect leaseholders from unreasonable charges.
Key Points
- Implied repairing covenant for short leases under 7 years (s.11)
- Structure, exterior, installations for water/gas/electricity/heating (s.11(1))
- Cannot contract out of s.11 obligations (s.12)
- Landlord must be notified of disrepair before liability arises
- Service charges must be reasonably incurred (s.19)
- Right to request summary of service charge costs (s.21)
- Consultation requirements for major works (s.20, as amended by CLRA 2002)
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2002 — Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002
Strengthened leaseholder protections on service charges and introduced right to manage.