On 11 November 2026 the government announced a package of changes to how service charges work for leasehold homes in England. If you own a flat in Poole or Bournemouth, are thinking of buying one, or let one out, this affects you. Around three million leaseholders in England pay service charges, and with so many apartments along our coastline, from Westbourne and Boscombe to Lower Parkstone and Poole Quay, a large share of the homes we sell and let are leasehold.
Here is what has been announced, when it starts, and what is still a proposal.
What has been announced
The government said it would lay five sets of regulations before Parliament on 12 November 2026, with one more to follow before the end of the year. They bring in parts of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 that had been waiting for detailed rules. The regulations still need Parliamentary approval, but the government has set out these start dates:
From 1 April 2027
- Leaseholders can ask for information about their service charges, including from previous years, and landlords will need a good reason to refuse.
- Landlords will need a court or tribunal’s approval before they can pass their legal costs on to leaseholders through the service charge. Leaseholders will also gain a route to recover their own legal costs in appropriate cases.
From 1 November 2027
- Leaseholders will automatically get clearer information about their charges, including buildings insurance and administration fees, with stronger protection against excessive fees for arranging insurance.
- Private landlords will have to use simpler, standard service charge demands and provide financial accounts and annual reports.
From 1 November 2028
- Councils and housing associations must provide the same standard demands, accounts and annual reports. They have an extra year because of the size of their systems.
One thing to be clear about: these rules do not cap service charges. They are about openness, and making it fairer to challenge costs you think are unreasonable.
What is still a proposal
The Prime Minister has pledged to introduce a Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill before Christmas. The government says it would:
- cap ground rents on existing leases at £250 a year;
- make commonhold the default for most new flats, and make it easier for existing leaseholders to switch to commonhold;
- replace the current forfeiture system with a fairer way of enforcing leases.
None of this is law yet. The detail could change as the Bill goes through Parliament, and no start dates have been given, so please don’t make decisions based on it alone.
If you own a flat and are thinking of selling
Buyers of leasehold flats, and their solicitors, look closely at service charges, ground rent and the length of the lease. Clearer paperwork should help sales go more smoothly, as long as you have it ready. Our advice is to:
- gather your last few years of service charge demands and accounts, plus any planned major works, now rather than once a buyer is found;
- check how many years are left on your lease. Shorter leases can affect both price and mortgage availability;
- allow for the cost and time of the leasehold management pack from your managing agent. You can read more about this on our selling costs guide.
If you are buying a flat
The changes don’t remove the need for careful checks before you commit. Ask early about the yearly service charge, what it covers, how it has changed over recent years, the reserve fund, any major works planned and the ground rent. From April 2027 you will find it easier to get past information once you own the flat, and from November 2027 the bills themselves should be clearer and more consistent. If a proposed £250 ground rent cap becomes law, that could help owners of flats with higher ground rents, but it isn’t confirmed yet. If you are buying your first home, our first-time buyer guide and stamp duty calculator are a good place to start.
If you are a landlord who lets a flat
Many local landlords own leasehold flats, and service charges come straight out of your rental return. Better information should make it easier to plan for rises and major works, and the change on legal costs means you are less likely to be charged for your freeholder’s disputes. It’s worth looking again at your figures using our rental yield guide. And with the Renters’ Rights Act changes already in force, our Renters’ Rights Act checklist will help you check everything else is in order.
What to do next
For most people, nothing needs to change today. But if you are planning to sell a flat in the next year or so, getting your leasehold paperwork together early is one of the simplest ways to avoid delays. Have a look at our FAQs or our area guides for Westbourne, Boscombe and Lower Parkstone.
Thinking of selling or letting your flat? Our Oakdale and Winton teams know the local leasehold market well. Contact us for a free, no-obligation valuation and we’ll talk you through what buyers and tenants will want to see.