Not every building qualifies for Right to Manage. Before you invest time organising your neighbours, it's worth understanding the eligibility rules. This guide walks through each test in plain English.
Not sure what RTM is? Read our plain-English guide first.
The four main eligibility tests
1. The building must be a self-contained block of flats
RTM applies to self-contained buildings (or self-contained parts of buildings) that contain flats. A "flat" here means a dwelling on a single floor or over two or more floors, but specifically excludes houses.
If your building contains a mix of flats and commercial premises (a shop on the ground floor, for example), it can still qualify - provided it meets the residential use threshold below.
2. At least two-thirds of the flats must be held on long leases
A "long lease" means a lease originally granted for more than 21 years. If you bought a flat with a 99-year or 125-year lease, you almost certainly qualify on this test.
This threshold applies to the building as a whole. If fewer than two-thirds of the flats are held on long leases, RTM is not available.
3. No more than 25% of the building can be used for non-residential purposes
If more than 25% of the internal floor area of the building is used commercially (offices, retail, etc.), the building is excluded from RTM.
This is measured by floor area - so a single large commercial unit could push a building over the threshold even if it only occupies one floor.
4. At least 50% of qualifying leaseholders must participate
You don't need all leaseholders to join - just at least half of those who hold qualifying long leases. If a leaseholder owns more than one flat, each flat counts separately.
This is the threshold you need to meet before you can serve a claim notice. You can have more than 50%, but you cannot proceed with less.
Buildings that are excluded
Some buildings cannot use RTM regardless of how many leaseholders want to participate:
- Buildings where the freeholder occupies a flat as their only or principal home
- Buildings that are part of a National Trust estate
- Buildings that are converted properties where the freeholder (or a member of the freeholder's family) occupied a flat as their only or principal home in the past 12 months
These exclusions are relatively rare in practice.
What about purpose-built blocks with multiple buildings?
The 2024 reforms introduced a new concept: a "relevant premises" can now include multiple self-contained buildings in the same development - useful for estates with several blocks sharing communal facilities.
This is a significant change for large estates where individual blocks previously fell below the threshold but collectively have enough qualifying leaseholders.
What if my building has a resident landlord?
If the freeholder lives in one of the flats in the building as their only or principal home, RTM is excluded. This is designed to protect small landlords who are part of the community.
The test applies at the time you serve the claim notice. If the freeholder has recently moved out, the building may qualify.
How to check your eligibility
The fastest way to check whether your building qualifies is to use the free eligibility check on YourBuilding. It walks through each of the criteria above and tells you where you stand in a few minutes.
You'll need to know:
- The number of flats in the building
- Whether they're held on long leases
- An estimate of any commercial floor area
- How many leaseholders are likely to want to participate
If your building qualifies, the next step is forming an RTM company and inviting your neighbours to join. YourBuilding guides you through every step of that process.
Related guides
Do You Need a Solicitor for Right to Manage? | YourBuilding
Most RTM claims do not need a solicitor. This guide explains when you can proceed without one, when you should consider getting legal advice, and what free support is available.
How to Serve an RTM Claim Notice | YourBuilding
A plain-English guide to the RTM claim notice - what it must contain, when to serve it, who to serve it on, and what happens next.
The Right to Manage Process Step by Step | YourBuilding
A complete walkthrough of the RTM process from eligibility check to acquisition day - every stage explained in plain English.
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