About your service charge
Your service charge is the money you pay to maintain your building and the surrounding estate. Service charges are different from one area to another and will depend on:
- the type of property you have purchased
- the layout of the estate
- the terms of your lease
Many of our blocks and estates have both tenant and leaseholder residents. As a leaseholder you are not charged for the cost of repairs to tenants' homes. You are only responsible for paying your share of the costs for repairing the exterior and communal areas.
The amount you pay is calculated yearly based on actual expenditure. You will only pay for specific services and works on your building or estate for that year.
Main items listed in your service charge invoice
Service charges are made up of several different items. Not all items will be charged to every home, for example, some blocks do not have a lift. Your leasehold agreement (part of your buyer documents) lists the items for your specific property.
Management and administration charges
These are our costs for managing our leasehold properties. Management and administration charges include:
- the staffing and office costs of the service charge team
- the estate management service that is provided to leaseholders by staff from the repairs, tenancy and residents involvement teams
Repairs and maintenance
- General repairs to the block or estate and grounds in which your flat or maisonette is located
- Lift maintenance (where applicable) covers repair and servicing and maintenance of lifts
- Entry phone maintenance (where applicable) covers repair and maintenance of entry control systems doors
Landscape and horticultural services
- Regular grass cutting of the communal areas
- Maintenance of trees and bushes
- The general maintenance of landscaped areas
Caretaking and cleaning
- Services such as cleaning the block and bin areas
- Maintaining equipment
- Emergency caretaking services
- Communal window cleaning where appropriate
Energy
The electricity costs used for lifts, lighting and power in communal areas.
Communal heating
The fuel, repair and maintenance of all parts of the heating systems owned by us.
Building Insurance premium
Your share of our costs for buildings insurance. You will be sent a separate annual bill for this item from our risk and insurance section.
Ground rent
The rent charged to every leaseholder by us. It is due yearly in advance. The amount you pay will be in accordance with your lease.
Major repairs and improvements
Your share of the costs of carrying out major items of planned repairs, replacement, and improvements.
Major repair costs are invoiced separately to the annual service charge bill.
For more information read our Major works and planned repairs webpage.