# Qualifying tenant

For the right to manage, the leaseholder of a flat under a long lease, which normally means a lease granted for more than 21 years.

Also called: qualifying leaseholder.

Qualifying tenants are the people who can take part in a right to manage claim and become members of the [RTM company](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/rtm-company).

## Who counts

- The tenant of a flat under a **long lease**: generally one granted for a fixed term of more than 21 years, plus some other kinds such as right-to-buy leases and shared ownership leases where the leaseholder owns 100% (ss.75–77).
- **Joint leaseholders** are together one qualifying tenant.
- There is only **one qualifying tenant per flat**. If a flat has been sub-let on another long lease, the leaseholder lowest in the chain usually qualifies.
- One person can be the qualifying tenant of more than one flat.

## Who doesn't

- A tenant under a business tenancy (Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Part 2).
- Someone renting a flat on an ordinary assured shorthold tenancy. They are the leaseholder's tenant, not a qualifying tenant.

## Why it matters

A building only qualifies if qualifying tenants hold at least two-thirds of the flats, and the claim needs members holding at least half of the flats. See [Does our building qualify?](https://runyourblock.co.uk/guides/right-to-manage/does-our-building-qualify).

## Related terms

- [Right to manage (RTM)](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/right-to-manage)
- [RTM company](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/rtm-company)
- [Leaseholder](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/leaseholder)
- [Claim notice](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/claim-notice)

## Sources

- [Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, s.75 (qualifying tenants)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/15/section/75)
- [Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, s.76 (long leases)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/15/section/76)

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Updated 22 October 2026. Source: https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/qualifying-tenant