From frustrated leaseholder to in control - here is how it works
The Right to Manage is a legal right that lets you take over management of your building without having to prove your current management is failing. Here is how YourBuilding guides you through it.
Check if your building qualifies →What is the Right to Manage?
If you own a leasehold flat, your building is managed by whoever your freeholder appoints - and you have little say in who that is or what they charge. The Right to Manage (RTM) is a law that gives leaseholders the power to take over that management themselves, without needing to buy the freehold and without having to prove the current management is at fault.
You do not need permission from your landlord. You just need to qualify, organise your neighbours, and follow the legal process. YourBuilding guides you through every step.
Read our full guide to what Right to Manage is and how it works
Does my building qualify?
Most purpose-built blocks of flats in England and Wales qualify. The main requirements are:
The building must contain at least two flats
At least two thirds of flats must be held on long leases
No more than 50% of the building can be in commercial use
The building must not be owned by a council, housing association or similar social landlord
Not sure if you qualify? Submit your postcode and our team will check for you - it takes less than a minute and costs nothing.
Check eligibility →For a detailed breakdown of every eligibility rule, read our complete RTM eligibility guide.
The process step by step
- 1
Step 1 - Check eligibility
Submit your building postcode and contact details. Our team checks your building against the legal qualifying criteria using live data from the EPC register, Companies House and other sources. We will contact you within 2 working days with your results.
- 2
Step 2 - Build support
RTM requires at least 50% of qualifying flats to participate. We help you understand who your neighbours are, how to approach them, and what to say. We provide template letters and tools to track who is on board.
- 3
Step 3 - Form the RTM company
Once you have enough support, you incorporate a small limited company - the RTM company - which will take over management. We generate the correct documents automatically.
- 4
Step 4 - Serve the claim notice
The RTM company serves a formal claim notice on your landlord. They have one month to respond. If they do not respond or admit your entitlement, RTM is confirmed automatically.
- 5
Step 5 - Take over management
On the acquisition date - at least four months after serving the notice - management transfers to your RTM company. You decide how to manage the building going forward, whether that is self-managing or appointing your own agent.
Read our complete step-by-step RTM process guide for a detailed walkthrough of every stage.
For details on serving the claim notice, read our guide to the RTM claim notice.
We stay with you after takeover
Most RTM services stop the moment you take over management. YourBuilding is different - we continue to support your RTM company long after acquisition day.
Once you are in control, YourBuilding helps you with:
Building compliance - fire safety, asbestos, electrical certificates and more, with automated reminders so nothing gets missed
Service charge management - budgets, demands, arrears tracking and annual accounts
Contractor management - repairs, maintenance and supplier oversight
Company administration - Companies House filings, director records and meeting minutes
Day-to-day management - a resident portal for repair requests, with AI triage and job tracking
RTM is the beginning, not the end. YourBuilding guides you from your first eligibility check all the way to a confidently managed building.
Full management tools launching later in 2026.
How long does it take?
The legal minimum from serving the claim notice to taking over is around five months. In practice the full process from starting to taking over typically takes six to twelve months depending on how quickly you build support among neighbours and whether your landlord contests the claim.
What does it cost?
Checking your eligibility is completely free. We charge a flat fee to guide you through the full RTM process - speak to our team when we contact you with your eligibility results and we will explain the options.
Ready to find out if your building qualifies?
It takes less than a minute. Our team will be in touch within 2 working days.
Check eligibility