What is an 'administrative charge' in the leasehold context?

In the leasehold context, an 'administrative charge' refers to fees that a landlord may charge for administering specific requests from leaseholders. This can include costs associated with processing applications for alterations, managing requests for consent related to sub-letting, or handling administrative tasks tied to the lease. These charges are intended to compensate the landlord for the time and resources expended in managing and responding to these requests, ensuring that the process is efficient and legally compliant.

Understanding this concept is important for leaseholders, as it ensures they are aware of potential additional costs when engaging with their landlord for various administrative matters. The clarity surrounding this charge helps leaseholders prepare and budget for these inevitable interactions.

The other options, while they mention fees and charges associated with lease agreements, do not accurately capture the definition of an administrative charge. Charges for immediate property repairs focus on maintenance and upkeeping of the property, late payment fees are penalties for overdue rent, and expenses incurred during property viewing pertain to marketing and showing the property rather than administrative tasks associated with lease management. Therefore, only the first option aligns with the definition of an administrative charge in the leasehold context.