Court-Appointed Property Management
When management has broken down completely, the tribunal can take it out of the landlord's hands and give it to somebody else. That somebody has to be willing to take it on.
What a Section 24 Appointment Is
Section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 allows the First-tier Tribunal to appoint a manager to carry out the management functions of a residential building. It is used where the landlord is in breach of its obligations, where unreasonable service charges have been made, or where it is otherwise just and convenient to make the order.
It is a serious remedy and it is not the same as Right to Manage. Right to Manage is a no-fault statutory route that leaseholders exercise themselves. A section 24 appointment is made by a tribunal, usually on evidence of failure, and the appointed manager answers to the tribunal rather than to the landlord.
What the Appointed Manager Does
Whatever the order says. The tribunal defines the appointed manager's functions in the order itself, and they commonly include collecting the service charge, arranging insurance, carrying out repairs and maintenance, and holding the funds. The manager is an officer of the tribunal and reports to it.
Our chief executive is court appointed to manage property, and we take appointments where we can do the job properly. Taking on a building whose records are incomplete and whose money is unaccounted for is difficult work and it should be priced and resourced as such.
What It Costs
The appointment fee is charged for each year of appointment and is published.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Court appointment | £780.00 for each year of appointment |
| Start-up fee, up to 10 units | £420.00 |
| Start-up fee, up to 25 units | £540.00 |
| Start-up fee, 50 units and above | £660.00 |
Taken from our published Additional Services price list, PBM Form #01-27 rev.6, effective 23 June 2025. All fees quoted are inclusive of VAT.
Where We Do This
From our Plymouth office, across Devon, Cornwall and the wider South West. Each area page sets out the authority, the fire and rescue service and the local building stock.
And what changes locally, area by area:
Common Questions
How Do Leaseholders Get a Manager Appointed?
By applying to the First-tier Tribunal under section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. A preliminary notice normally has to be served on the landlord first, giving it the opportunity to remedy the matters complained of.
Is a Tribunal-Appointed Manager the Same as Right to Manage?
No. Right to Manage is a no-fault route that qualifying leaseholders exercise themselves through an RTM company, without needing to prove anything against the landlord. A section 24 appointment is ordered by a tribunal, and the manager answers to the tribunal.
Can the Appointment Be Ended?
Yes. The order runs for the period the tribunal specifies, and either party can apply to vary or discharge it. In practice an appointment often ends when the leaseholders exercise Right to Manage or acquire the freehold, and management passes to a company they control.
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