From 13 July 2026, 80 fees in the Residential Property Division of the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber changed under a new five-tier structure. Many leasehold applications now cost £114 to start, followed by £227 if a hearing is listed. Other case types attract application and hearing fees of £200 and £300 respectively. Help with Fees remains available to eligible individuals. Our civil litigation solicitors can help you assess the likely cost, evidence and proportionality of a claim.
What changed in July 2026
The July changes extended the new framework to most remaining Residential Property cases. An earlier stage applied the structure to cases affected by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 from 1 May 2026. Our guide to section 21 going for London landlords and tenants explains the wider reforms. The official court and tribunal fees update contains the full schedule.
| Application | Application fee | Hearing fee | Total if heard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge service charge liability | £114 | £227 | £341 |
| Challenge a leasehold management charge | £114 | £227 | £341 |
| Appoint a manager for a property | £114 | £227 | £341 |
| Vary a lease | £114 | £227 | £341 |
| Leasehold enfranchisement | £114 | £227 | £341 |
| Electrical safety standards application | £200 | £300 | £500 |
| Challenge a rent increase | £47 | £0 | £47 |
| Determine a mobile-home pitch fee | £23 | £0 | £23 |
| Specified urgent building safety matters | £0 | £0 | £0 |
Building safety and Electronic Communications Code cases are also intended to remain free until early 2027. A hearing fee becomes payable when the tribunal sends notice of the hearing. Some cases can be decided using written evidence, while a settlement reached before a hearing fee becomes payable may keep the tribunal cost to the application fee.
What leaseholders should consider
A £341 tribunal fee may be proportionate where several thousand pounds of service charges are disputed, but applicants should review their evidence and potential professional costs first.
Where several leaseholders face the same issue, a joint application may be possible and can allow the fee to be shared, although this depends on the application and circumstances. Each individual seeking Help with Fees normally needs a separate application. If one applicant in a multiple application does not qualify, the full fee remains payable.
If you pay a tribunal fee, you can ask the tribunal to order the respondent to reimburse all or part of it. The tribunal decides whether reimbursement is fair at the end of the case. Help with Fees may reduce or remove the fee for eligible individuals, depending on their savings, benefits and income.
Before applying, consider whether another route is more suitable. Our comparison of housing ombudsman and court routes and overview of court reform and redress schemes explain some alternatives. Claims involving damp and mould or disrepair compensation are normally pursued through the County Court rather than as service-charge determinations.
What landlords and freeholders should budget for
Landlords, freeholders and managing agents should account for application fees, hearing fees, evidence preparation and professional advice. Early negotiation or a documented settlement agreement may avoid tribunal proceedings altogether.
Where the issue is an undisputed sum rather than the reasonableness or payability of a leasehold charge, read our guide to recovering a debt before court. A statutory demand is a formal insolvency procedure and should not be used casually or for a genuinely disputed debt. Our debt recovery service can identify an appropriate route, while our guide to small claims and fast track cases explains what may happen if a money claim proceeds in the County Court.
If the flat forms part of an estate
A service-charge or management dispute may arise while executors are administering a leasehold property. Our probate solicitors in London can deal with the estate administration, while reviewing your own will can help ensure your instructions remain current.
Work out the cost before applying
The new fees change the economics of smaller disputes. Check the correct form, consider whether a hearing is likely, review Help with Fees and assess whether correspondence or mediation could resolve the matter first. Our solicitors in North London can advise on the tribunal route and the practical alternatives.