Apartment owners in Northern Ireland are advocating for a "right to challenge" property service charges, following significant increases in their annual fees. Some residents at Lisburn Square have seen their service charges rise from around £1,400 per year in 2018 to more than £4,300 for the most recent financial year.
Leaseholders pay these charges to managing agents, such as Ambit CRE, for the maintenance, repairs, management of shared areas, and insurance. One resident, Sheila Hughes, 97, who bought her apartment in 2010, stated that the increased fees are difficult to manage on a widow's pension.
Deborah Anderson, who purchased her apartment in 2018, noted a sudden increase in service charge fees in 2020 due to a "change in the apportionment" of costs set by the landlord. She claims residents have found it difficult to ascertain exactly what they are paying for, with annual budgets described as "quite vague."
Unlike leaseholders in England, Scotland, and Wales, who can challenge service charges through an independent tribunal, there is currently no specific legislation or regulation for shared property in Northern Ireland, according to the Department of Finance.
Lisburn Square No 2, the apartment owners' landlord, stated it is the "largest individual contributor to the service charge" and that all expenditure is audited by chartered certified accountants. The landlord also noted that every leaseholder is required to confirm they received independent legal advice before entering into their legal agreement.
In October 2025, Finance Minister John O'Dowd announced plans to reform the regulation of shared property management in Northern Ireland. His department produced a report outlining policy options, including a registration scheme for managing agents and more fundamental land law reform. A dedicated team is being established to develop legislation for consideration in the early part of the next mandate, with stakeholder engagement and public consultation planned.