Session 1: Thursday 1st February, 10am to 11:10am

The Legal Landscape of Service Charges

  • The concept of service charges
  • Drafting repair and service charge clauses
  • Common shortcomings in leases
  • Liability of assignors and assignees when leases change hands
  • Interpreting service charge clauses: case law
  • Statutory rules impacting residential service charge regimes

Presenters:

Derek Bruce, Associate Professor, Kingston University
Richard Webber
, Partner and Head of Property Disputes, RLS Law

 

Session 2: Thursday 1st February, 11:20am to 12:30pm

Practicalities of Running Service Charge Accounts - Part 1

  • RICS Service Charge Professional Statement (2018), 1st edition
  • Inherent conflicts in service charge management
  • Service Charge Regimes
  • Accounting Practicalities: Budgets, Client Accounts, Final Certificates
  • Audits and ICAEW Requirements 

Presenters:

Derek Bruce, Associate Professor, Kingston University
Richard Webber
, Partner and Head of Property Disputes, RLS Law

 

Session 3: Thursday 8th February, 10am to 11:10am

Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 ("Section 20") and the Attendant Regulations

  • The concept of reasonableness
  • Consultation (“Section 20”) Requirements
  • Recognised Tenants’ Associations
  • First Tier Tribunal (”FTT”) applications and other remedies
  • Reform
  • Recent case law

Presenters:

Derek Bruce, Associate Professor, Kingston University
Richard Webber
, Partner and Head of Property Disputes, RLS Law

 

Session 4: Thursday 8th February, 11:20am to 12:30pm

Practicalities of Running Service Charge Accounts - Part 2

  • Best value concepts and tendering
  • Benchmarking and tenant satisfaction
  • Apportioning costs and costs recovery
  • Agents’ fees and other professional costs
  • Handling sinking funds
  • Green lease challenges

Presenters:

Derek Bruce, Associate Professor, Kingston University
Richard Webber
, Partner and Head of Property Disputes, RLS Law