Leasehold risk checklist
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Section 20 Major Works Check
Major works risk is about stage and evidence. A vague works mention, an early notice and a contractor appointment should not be treated as the same risk.
Built for England & Wales leasehold transactions.
Legal caution
This page is informational only, not legal advice. It does not tell you whether to exchange, proceed, renegotiate, or withdraw. Verify the issue against source documents and obtain professional advice before relying on it for legal, financial, or transactional decisions.
Checklist
- Search for Section 20, consultation, qualifying works, tender, specification and contractor references.
- Identify the stage: intention, estimates, award, works underway or final account.
- Check whether the expected contribution for the flat is stated.
- Compare expected works with reserve-fund balance and current budget.
- Ask who bears liability for demands issued before or after completion.
Warning signals
- Works mentioned without the notice or latest update.
- High-value scope with no per-flat estimate.
- Reserve fund appears too weak to absorb the likely cost.
- Completion paperwork does not address pending works apportionment.
Questions to ask
- What is the current consultation stage and latest expected scope?
- What is the estimated contribution for this flat?
- How much will be funded from reserves versus one-off demands?
- Who is responsible for demands issued before or after completion?
Official context to cross-check
These external LEASE pages are useful public context for the issue category. LeaseLens is independent, does not copy official guidance, and does not replace legal advice.
Apply this to a live pack
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Related guides
- Major Works and Section 20 Basics
How to spot Section 20 and major works exposure in a leasehold pack before exchange.
- Reserve Fund Questions to Ask
Questions to ask about leasehold reserve or sinking funds, planned works and future one-off demands.
- Interpreting Reserve Fund Balances
How to judge whether a leasehold reserve or sinking fund balance is meaningful against planned works and building age.
Related topics
- Major works and building safety
Review Section 20 notices, major works timing, remediation references, and building safety signals that can create cost or delay risk.