In plain EnglishA payment under a lease for specified services, works, insurance or management costs. Authority, procedure, evidence and reasonableness are separate checks.Open the statutory definition demand paperwork

What must come with a service-charge demand?

Check the document that actually asks for payment. Keep the rights summary, landlord details, service address and timing as separate tests.

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Building evidence relevant to this guide

Start here

Check the summary, landlord details, address and dates.

The prescribed summary

A residential service-charge demand must come with the prescribed summary of rights and obligations. England and Wales have different prescribed summaries. Use the version for the property, not a general leaflet.

The landlord details

Section 47 requires the landlord's name and address on a written demand. If that address is outside England and Wales, an address in England and Wales for serving notices is also required. Naming the agent alone is not enough.

The address for notices

Section 48 requires an address in England and Wales where notices may be served on the landlord. It can be supplied separately from the demand.

The age of the cost

Section 20B may restrict recovery of costs incurred more than 18 months before the demand, unless the required written notification was given within that period.

Work through it

Ask for the missing paperwork.

01
Keep the full demand
Save the document, attachments, envelope or email and any earlier notices. A ledger entry or reminder may not show the complete pack.
02
Record what is missing
Name the absent document or information and keep a copy of your request. A paperwork issue does not by itself settle the amount, lease authority or reasonableness of the charge.
03
Ask a neutral question
Request the missing material, the lease clause relied on and the supporting breakdown without asserting permanent invalidity.
04
Pause before withholding
The statutory consequences differ and defects may be corrected. Get case-specific advice before taking a payment or enforcement position.

Take the next step in LEASE-iQ®

What does the lease require before this payment is due?

Use this for a demand, balancing charge, annual accounts or missing supporting papers.

Copy questions for this issue

Questions to paste into LEASE-iQ

I have uploaded the signed lease and received this payment request: [describe the demand, date, period and amount]. Please identify what the lease requires before this payment becomes due.

Please:
1. Identify the payer, payee, payment clause, due date and any notice, certificate, budget or accounts required by the lease.
2. Quote the short relevant wording and give the clause and page for each requirement.
3. Explain whether the lease distinguishes an advance demand, balancing charge, reserve contribution or another payment.
4. Separate the lease requirements from statutory demand requirements and identify the current official source for any law you mention.
5. Do not infer that a missing document makes the charge permanently irrecoverable. Explain the precise consequence supported by the source.
6. List the demand, notices, accounts, invoices and dates that must be checked outside the lease.
7. State the strongest competing reading and finish with the exact neutral questions I should send to the landlord or manager.

Keep checking: Use the demand checker for the papers in front of you. Use LEASE-iQ to establish the lease route behind them.

Open the sources

Check each demand requirement separately.

This guide covers residential service-charge paperwork in England and Wales. The prescribed rights summary differs by jurisdiction. It does not decide whether the underlying charge is payable.

LegislationLandlord and Tenant Act 1985, section 21B

Summary of rights and the statutory withholding provision

LegislationEngland: 2007 Summary Regulations

Prescribed content and form for England

Official sourceWales: 2007 Summary Regulations

The separate prescribed summary for properties in Wales

LegislationLandlord and Tenant Act 1987, section 47

Landlord information on written demands

LegislationLandlord and Tenant Act 1987, section 48

Address in England and Wales for notices

LegislationLandlord and Tenant Act 1985, section 20B

18-month rule and written notification exception

Independent guidanceLeasehold Advisory Service

Current independent guide to demand format

Prepared by Adam Street, founder of building trust. Sources and current-law status checked 9 October 2026. Legislation links are the controlling sources. Guidance helps explain the route but does not replace the statute or the lease.

Practical tool

Check the demand paperwork

Create a clear list of what you found and a neutral request for anything missing.

Open the paperwork checklist

Check the summary, landlord details, address and dates.

The prescribed summary

The landlord details

The address for notices

The age of the cost

Ask for the missing paperwork.

Keep the full demand

Record what is missing

Ask a neutral question

Pause before withholding

What does the lease require before this payment is due?

Check each demand requirement separately.

Check the demand paperwork

Related guides and tools.

What must happen before a payment is due?