Recognised tenants’ associations
About recognised tenants’ associations
A recognised tenants’ association is a formal group of leaseholders who act together on issues affecting their building or estate.
The legal term used is “tenants’ association” even though members are usually leaseholders rather than rental tenants. Some council landlords call these groups “leaseholder associations” to avoid confusion.
Recognition gives the association certain legal rights. One of the most useful is the right to appoint a qualified surveyor to advise on service charge issues. The surveyor can inspect relevant documents held by the landlord and inspect shared parts of the building. This helps you check whether costs and works are justified.
A recognised association can also give leaseholders a clearer collective voice when:
- asking for information about service charges
- responding to major works consultations (Section 20 consultations)
- raising concerns about repairs, services or costs
- commenting on the appointment or re-appointment of managing agents
- deciding whether service charges or management decisions should be challenged
Do you need recognised status?
You can form an association without applying for recognition.
Recognition is useful if you want the association to use its legal rights on behalf of its members. It gives the association the ability to:
- appoint a surveyor to advise on service charges
- ask for service charge information
- inspect documents
- be consulted about managing agents
- take a formal role in Section 20 consultation
You may not need recognised status if you only want to:
- share information
- raise concerns informally
- build relationships among residents
- campaign as a residents’ group
- speak to the landlord or managing agent as a group
Getting recognition
You can get recognition for a tenants’ association by either asking the landlord or applying to a tribunal.
Tribunals use eligibility criteria to decide if your association can be recognised. Landlords may also consider these criteria.
The main criteria are:
- Does the association represent enough qualifying tenants? There are membership thresholds you need to meet.
- Is the association fair and democratic – run for the benefit of leaseholders as a whole?
- Is the association independent from the landlord?
To help meet the membership threshold, there’s a right to get details from the landlord of qualifying tenants who are not already members.
Running the association
A recognised tenants’ association must be run properly to maintain its recognised status.
For example you’ll need to:
- appoint a chair, secretary and treasurer
- agree a constitution and keep it up to date
- keep accounts
- keep an up-to-date membership list
- keep proper records of meetings, votes and decisions
- Last updated:
- 25 June 2026
- Next review:
- 25 June 2028
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