Leasehold risk checklist
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Leasehold Service Charge Check
Use this page when you want to check whether service charge costs look stable or could jump after completion.
Built for England & Wales leasehold transactions.
Checklist
- Collect at least 3 years of service charge accounts and this year's budget.
- Compare budget vs actual spend and note repeated overspends.
- Check whether reserve/sinking fund contributions are consistent.
- Look for one-off balancing charges or unusual admin fees.
- Verify any cost lines that do not appear in previous years.
Warning signals
- Large year-on-year swings with no documented explanation.
- Budget materially below actuals for multiple years.
- Reserve fund absent or unclear for an older building.
- Frequent balancing demands or ad-hoc charges.
Questions to ask
- What explains the largest year-on-year service charge movement?
- Are there known upcoming works that are not reflected in the current budget?
- What is the current reserve fund balance and ring-fencing position?
- Can you share a detailed breakdown for admin and management fees?
Apply this to a live pack
This page is generic guidance. Use LeaseLens when you want pack-specific Quick Findings and the option to unlock the Full Report.
Related guides
- Compare Three Years of Accounts
Compare Three Years of Accounts for England & Wales leasehold buyers and investors.
- Admin Fees Breakdown
Admin Fees Breakdown for England & Wales leasehold buyers and investors.
- Budget vs Actual Spend
Budget vs Actual Spend for England & Wales leasehold buyers and investors.
Related topics
- Service charge and reserve fund
Understand annual charge pressure, reserve fund weakness, balancing charges, and why service charge history matters before exchange.