The long-awaited 4th edition of the Service Charge Residential Management Code has been published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This marks the first major update in a decade, setting a refreshed benchmark for transparency, professionalism and consistency across the sector. The new Code comes into force very quickly on 7th April 2026.
The updated code strengthens expectations around fairness, accountability and communication, while aligning with key legislative changes including the Building Safety Act 2022.
Andrew Bulmer, CEO of The Property Institute, commented:
“The 4th Edition of the Code reflects a decade of significant change and evolution, and gives our profession the clear, practical framework needed to deliver transparency, fairness, and trust for leaseholders in the current landscape. By reinforcing mandatory principles and embedding best practice expectations, the Code strengthens professionalism and integrity, and promotes fair, consistent service charge administration.”
TPI Policy Hour
TPI will help you get to grips with the new Code and what it means for your work. Sign up now to hear from the Code’s lead author, Jeff Platt, on the key updates, at the Policy Hour taking place on 25th March.
