Section 20 notice of intention template
A section 20 notice of intention is the first formal step in consulting leaseholders before major works paid for through the service charge. It describes the works, says why they are needed, invites comments within 30 days and invites leaseholders to nominate a contractor. A block manager sends one for each set of major works, with the building, the works, the dates and the estimate changing each time.
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What changes each time
12 values. Everything else is your wording, kept exactly.
Who it is from and to
- Addressed to
- Recognised tenants' association
- Landlord
- Managing agent
- Building and date of the notice
The works
- Description, or where to inspect one
- Why the works are needed
- Report and where to inspect it
Consultation
- Where to send comments
- Last day for comments and nominations
- Estimated total and share
- Who signs and in what capacity
The rules it usually needs
Written in plain English when the template is set up.
- One of several wordings
“Address the notice to each leaseholder of the building, or to one named leaseholder.”
The block manager asked for it to go to every leaseholder, so it is addressed to each leaseholder of Cedar Court.
- One of several wordings
“Describe the works in the notice, or say where a description can be inspected.”
The instructions asked for the full description, so the surveyor's outline specification was used.
- The AI decides from the paperwork
“Include the tenants' association, the managing agent, the report and the estimated cost only where the paperwork has them.”
The paperwork named a residents' association, the managing agent, the surveyor's report and a budget estimate, so all four were included.
One worked example, start to finish
The section 20 notice of intention in DocuWeave, from upload to approval.
1The document uploaded
The notice of intention, a Word file, uploaded as it is.
- 2
The template it became
It found 15 sections and 31 values, and asked 17 questions before publishing. The works are described in the notice, or it says where to inspect a description.
3The paperwork dropped in
The surveyor's condition report and outline specification, and the block manager's instructions.
4What was found, with sources
21 of 30 values filled from the paperwork, each with the passage it came from.
5What it asked
5 things for a person, starting with the description of the works, which the report and the email gave differently.
6The approved output
Approved, with Word and PDF downloads.
A free section 20 notice of intention to download
- Section 20 notice of intention, filled with fictional details (Word)
- Section 20 notice of intention, filled with fictional details (PDF)
Use it as it is, or upload it to DocuWeave and make it a template.
DocuWeave is not a law firm. A general template for common situations in England and Wales. It is not tailored to you and we do not update it when the law changes, so check it suits your situation before you use it. Terms.
Made by DocuWeave. Use at your own discretion.
Questions people ask
When is a section 20 notice needed?
When a landlord in England plans qualifying works that would cost any one leaseholder more than £250 through the service charge.
How long is the consultation period?
30 days, beginning with the date of the notice. Comments and nominations must arrive by the end of that period.
Can leaseholders nominate a contractor?
Yes. The notice invites leaseholders and any recognised tenants' association to propose a contractor, and the landlord must try to get an estimate from them.
What happens after the notice of intention?
The landlord obtains estimates, then sends a statement with at least two of them and a summary of the comments, and invites comments for a further 30 days.
What if the landlord does not consult?
The amount that can be recovered from each leaseholder for the works may be limited to £250, unless a tribunal grants dispensation.
Use this template
It opens in DocuWeave as a template you can check, change and publish. Nothing is used until you do.