The  Professional Bodies that can be called upon

by Freehold Estate Residents re charge increase and maintenance, safety concerns

Plus extra links discussing issues throughout UK

In the UK, freehold estate residents dealing with issues related to charge increases, maintenance, and safety concerns can seek assistance or advice from several professional bodies. Here are some key organizations:
 
    • Role: Represents freeholders and works to promote their rights, particularly in relation to estate charges and management.
    • Support: Offers advice on estate management charges, helps in campaigning for legislative changes to protect freeholders, and provides resources on how to deal with unreasonable charges.
    • Role: Represents managing agents who manage residential freehold and leasehold properties.
    • Support: While primarily for managing agents, it can be a point of contact for residents to understand the standards and ethics expected from management companies.
    • Role: Formerly known as the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM), it's a professional body for property managers.
    • Support: Provides members with a code of practice, which can be useful for residents to understand what standards they should expect from estate managers.
    • Role: Focuses on housing management professionals, including those involved in estate management.
    • Support: Offers insights into best practices in housing management, which can be beneficial for understanding maintenance and safety standards.
    • Role: A global professional body for surveyors, including those specializing in property management.
    • Support: Provides a set of standards for property management which can be used to challenge substandard maintenance or safety issues. Residents can also consult with RICS surveyors for independent advice.
    • Role: Although focused on leasehold, LEASE offers advice which can be relevant to freehold estates, especially where estate management practices are similar.
    • Support: Provides free advice on property management issues, including how to deal with service charges, which can be analogous to estate charges for freeholders.
    • Role: Represents solicitors in England and Wales.
    • Support: Residents can seek legal advice from solicitors who are members of the Law Society, particularly those with expertise in property law, to understand their legal rights and options regarding estate charges.
    • Role: Advocates for homeowners, providing advice and support.
    • Support: Offers practical advice on estate charges, including how to challenge them and what to look for in estate management contracts.

These bodies can provide professional advice, represent interests, or guide residents through the complex landscape of estate management, particularly when dealing with increasing charges or concerns about maintenance and safety. However, the effectiveness of involving these bodies can vary based on the specific circumstances, the clarity of the legal agreements in place, and the willingness of management companies to engage in dialogue or change practices.

 

Relevant Web Pages

 

 

2. I own the freehold of my property. Why do I have to pay an estate charge?
Estate charges on freehold properties In a private estate, it is common that the homeowners of freehold properties must pay a contribution for the upkeep of the communal areas on the estate. The communal areas may simply be private roads; but they can also include landscaped gardens, electric gates, street lighting, refuse areas, sewage pumps […]
 
3. Freeholders' estate and service charges
Sometimes the developer will set up a Residents’ Management Company (RMC) to take over ownership of the communal areas – where this happens the RMC can appoint a management company to work on its behalf. Freehold owners on these estates have very limited rights over the cost and quality of services provided.
 
4. Freehold Maintenance Obligations | Express Conveyancing
In actual fact, it is not uncommon to see these shared maintenance obligations especially in newer estates. For this reason, there is great potential when purchasing a freehold property to fail to take into account possible hidden freehold maintenance obligations. ... • Private road maintenance • Private septic tank arrangements • Share accessway and driveways • Street lighting in residential areas • Maintenance of landscaped gardens • Repair of private drainage systems • Estate rent charges
 
5. Debate: Freehold Management: Service Charges - 20th Apr 2023
The Government have been very clear that all charges should be reasonable and clearly communicated, and we are wholly committed to strengthening freeholders’ rights on these estates. ... I am very encouraged by what the Minister is saying. Actually, some charges, rather than being reasonable, should be not there at all. Let us take play areas as an example. Will the Minister consider whether local authorities should take over a play area if, for example, it has been created as a result of an agreement with the developer? Such play areas are used not just by the residents whose properties the green area fronts but by anyone in the local area, freely.
 
6. The Pros and Cons of Freehold Properties with Service/Estate Charges - KhanMather Solicitors
Quality Control: When service/estate charges are in place, there is often a management company or residents’ association responsible for overseeing the upkeep and maintenance of the shared areas. This can lead to better quality control, ensuring that the common spaces and facilities are well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing. Cons of Freehold Properties with Service/Estate Charges
 
7. Freehold Service Charge Disputes
Service Charges & the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament on 27th November 2023
 
8. Service charges and other issues - The Leasehold Advisory Service
An estate management scheme allows landlords to keep some management control over properties, facilities and shared areas if the freehold has been sold to the leaseholders. These schemes are quite rare.
 
9. Leasehold property: service charge problems
With a leasehold property, your landlord (the freeholder) takes care of the common areas of your building. Make sure you know what you will be liable to pay for in advance and what to do if you don't agree with the leasehold property service charges with our top tips. ... More than half (54%) of leaseholders say they have encountered problems with their leasehold property including leasehold property service charges and maintenance fees according to the 2019 annual Homeowner Survey.
 
10. freehold-houses-on-private-estates. ...
 
11. ​​Freehold estates​ - GOV.UK
Freehold estates are private and mixed tenure estates where, unlike other residential areas, shared areas and facilities are not owned or looked after by the local council. Ownership and management will rest with someone else. This might be a private provider or homeowners themselves as part of an ‘estate management company’. In some cases, the management company will employ a managing agent to carry out or oversee maintenance, upkeep, or repair.
 
 
12. Freehold estate management
Freehold estates are private or mixed-tenure estates where, unlike other residential areas, shared areas and facilities, such as roads, play areas and open spaces, are not owned or looked after by the local authority. Responsibility for their maintenance will instead rest with a private company (often the original developer) or homeowners themselves through a residents’ management company (RMC).
 
13. Are annual estate management charges normal for new build homes and can they rise in the future? | This is Money
Rob Dix, co-founder of Property Hub and the investment app Portfolio and Sophie Lang, regional executive at the estate agent membership body, Propertymark. Rob Dix replies: Estate charges on new build estates are increasingly common. It's likely that the roads and grass verges are private, and will therefore need upkeep – even if it's minimal and there aren't any facilities that you benefit from compared to living on any other street - where your council tax covers any maintenance. The problem with these charges is there's no mechanism for freeholders to challenge the reasonableness of estate charges, or to collectively take over the management of the estate so you can choose your own service providers.
 
14. Estate charges for our freehold house have hit £16k: Can we challenge it? | Daily Mail Online
We own a freehold house, but have to pay estate charges that we disagree with. They have risen sharply from £6,000 per year in 2018 to a bill for £16,068 annually now. We seem to being charged for maintenance visits to communal areas that we don't get, for electricity to courtyard lights that do not work, and for the upkeep to a play area that is open to the public.
 
15. New Build Estate Management Fees Explained (2025) - HomeOwners Alliance
The rise of privately owned and managed new build estates over the past 20 years has led to freeholders having to pay new build estate management fees on top of council tax. You may face other costs too, which can cause difficulties when selling. Read on to find out more and what you can do about it. ... New build estate management fees usually cover the maintenance of any communal gardens, pavements, private roads, car parks and play areas within the new build estate.