Find your path to control
Every building is different. Use this guide to work out the right route for yours, and what each option will give you.
First, the most important question
Does your building already have a Residents' Management Company (RMC)?
An RMC is a company set up by leaseholders to manage the building. If you're not sure, check your lease or service charge demands — it'll be named there.
Pathway A — You have an RMC
Great news — you can go straight to self-management
Because your building already has an RMC, you have the legal structure in place to manage your block yourselves. You can step away from your managing agent whenever you're ready and start running things on your own terms.
Want to go even further?
Buying your freehold is optional, but it unlocks the strongest form of control: you can grant yourselves lease extensions, stop paying ground rent, and change lease terms — for example, lifting restrictions on pets or alterations. It costs more than running an RMC alone, and your building needs to be at least 75% residential to qualify.
Pathway B — You don't have an RMC
You have two main routes to control
Before you can manage your block, you need the legal right to do so. There are two ways to get there — one is faster and cheaper, the other gives you full ownership. Compare them below.
Right to Manage (RTM)The fast, affordable route to managing your block Best for: Blocks that want control quickly, without buying the freehold | Collective EnfranchisementFull ownership and total control of your building Best for: Blocks that want long-term control, lease extensions, and an end to ground rent | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | The legal right to manage the building | Full ownership of the freehold |
| Cost | Lower — typically a few thousand pounds for the whole building | Higher — depends on the freehold's market value |
| How long it takes | Around 4–6 months, but often faster for small buildings with fewer flats | 6–12 months from initial organisation to the end of the statutory process |
| Building must be at least | 50% residential | 75% residential |
| At least 2 flats | ||
| 2/3 of flats held by qualifying tenants | ||
| At least 50% of the qualifying tenants must take part | ||
| End ground rent | ||
| Grant your own lease extensions | ||
| Change lease terms (e.g. pet rules, alterations) | ||
| Appoint yourselves as manager | ||
| Choose or fire the managing agent |
Other routes worth knowing about
If your building already has an RMC, you don't need either of the routes above, you can move straight to self-management, and optionally buy the freehold later if you want full ownership.
There's also a third option called commonhold, which would let leaseholders collectively own and run their building outright, without a freeholder. It exists in law today but is rarely used because conversion requires unanimous consent from every leaseholder. The government published the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill in January 2026, which would reduce that threshold to 50% and make commonhold far more practical. The legislation isn't expected to take effect until late 2028 at the earliest. For most blocks, we recommend pursuing Right to Manage or Collective Enfranchisement now, and revisiting commonhold once the new rules are in force.