Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is Section 20 Defender?+
Section 20 Defender is a guided platform that helps leaseholders in England organise the evidence behind a Section 20 notice, service charge demand, or major-works dispute into a complete Defence Pack - an issue analysis, a chronology, a cost table, a missing-evidence report, and a draft observation letter to your landlord or managing agent.
What is a Section 20 notice?+
A Section 20 notice is part of a consultation process landlords are generally expected to follow before charging leaseholders for qualifying major works or a qualifying long-term agreement above certain thresholds, under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003. It typically arrives in stages - a Notice of Intention, a Statement of Estimates, and sometimes a Notice of Reasons.
Is this legal advice?+
No. This service provides information and document-preparation assistance only. It does not constitute legal advice, does not review your case, and does not determine whether any charge is valid, invalid, lawful or unlawful. See our full disclaimer for details.
What happens to my personal information?+
We collect only what's needed to build and send your Defence Pack - your name, property address, email, and the case details/evidence you provide. See our Privacy Policy for the full detail.
Will Section 20 Defender send my observation letter to my landlord?+
No. Everything we produce, including your observation letter, is a draft for your own review. We never send, file, or submit anything on your behalf - you decide whether, when, and how to use it.
Eligibility
Does this cover Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?+
No, England only. Section 20 sits in the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, which technically extends to Wales too, but Wales has its own, separately issued 2004 consultation Regulations - different enough that presenting Wales through an England-tuned tool would risk citing the wrong statutory instrument. Scotland and Northern Ireland aren't within this framework at all.
I'm a freeholder or a tenant - can I use this?+
No. This service is built specifically for a long leaseholder being charged a variable service charge by a landlord. It doesn't cover a freeholder, an assured or secure tenant, or a right-to-manage dispute between leaseholders.
My case involves cladding or building safety costs - can I use this?+
No, not for that part of your case. Building safety and cladding costs sit under a separate, more complex statutory protection regime with its own qualifying-lease and contribution-cap rules. We flag this automatically and stop rather than proceed, and point you to a specialist solicitor, Citizens Advice, or LEASE instead.
I'm already at tribunal, or facing forfeiture - can I use this?+
No. An active tribunal or court case, or a forfeiture threat, needs a specialist solicitor's judgement, not an automated tool. We check for this during the free Review step and won't proceed with generating a paid Defence Pack if it looks like this applies.
I bought my flat under Right to Buy - is there anything specific for me?+
Yes. Right to Buy leaseholders have a specific initial-period protection against being charged more for certain repair costs than was estimated in their original Section 125 offer notice. We check for this as one of our fixed issue areas whenever it looks relevant.
What if my case turns out not to be a good fit?+
We check this automatically during the free Review step - jurisdiction, tenure, and high-risk signals - before you pay anything. If your case is out of scope, we tell you clearly and won't let you proceed to payment.
Pricing
How much does it cost?+
A fixed £14.99 for your full Defence Pack. No subscription, no hidden fees.
Is there a subscription or recurring charge?+
No. It's a one-off payment for each Defence Pack you create.
Can I get a refund?+
We're unable to offer a refund simply because you're unhappy with how your landlord responds, but we will refund you if the service materially fails to deliver - for example a technical fault, or your case turning out to be out of scope only after payment. See our disclaimer for the full policy.
Technical
What information do I need to provide?+
Your Section 20 notice, demand, or invoice, plus your name, property address and email. You can also upload supporting evidence like earlier notices, invoices, or photographs of the works.
Can I edit my observation letter before using it?+
Yes - your observation letter is always fully editable, both on-screen and in the copy we email you, before you use it.
What file types can I upload?+
PDF documents and images (JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF).
Want more detail on a specific issue area? Our guides cover each one in full.
Still have questions?
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