leasehold services
your service charges
Annual estimated service charge sent to you in March/April
We have to estimate the charges for most of the services we provide because we will not know exactly how much they cost until afterwards. Each March we will send you an estimate of how much your service charge will be for the year starting on 1st April. This will show the estimate for each service you get and will include an estimate for any major works that are due to be completed during the year (1 st April – 31 st March).
Invoice sent in March/ April
We will send you an invoice in April. It will include :
- the ground rent
- half the estimated service charge for the year including any charges for major works although these will be held on a separate account
- any service charge debts you owe us from previous years
If you pay half yearly, the balance shown on the invoice is due within 14 days of receiving this invoice.
If you pay by direct debit over 10 months, the details of the direct debit payments will be sent to you by letter.
Your major works charges must be paid in the same way as your main service charge. You have a separate account for these and payments for major works must be made to that account.
If you wish to spread the costs of the major works the details of how this may be possible can be found in the “Paying Your Charges Section” on this Leasehold part of the site.
Annual actual service charges sent in September/October
Every September/October we will send you a statement showing what we actually spent in the previous year which ended on 31st March. We will show how this compares to the estimated service charge that you paid. Often the actual amount spent is not exactly the same as the estimated charge and there may be an amount underpaid or overpaid. We add or take this away from the balance of your account and show this at the bottom of this statement.
Invoice sent in September/October
We will send you an invoice in October. It will include :
- the second half of the estimated service charge for the year including any charges for major works
- any amount unpaid from the previous invoice
- any service charge debts you owe us from previous years
- the adjustment made to your account due to the actual amounts spent in the previous year as explained in the September statement
- We also provide you with a list of the day to day repairs carried out to your block and estate that go to make up the actual charge for repairs
If you pay half yearly, the balance shown on the invoice is due within 14 days of receiving this invoice
If you pay by direct debit over 10 months, the details of the direct debit payments will be sent to you by letter.
What does your annual service charge pay for
You only pay for the works or services that we provide to your block or estate. Here is a list of services we provide and an explanation of them. Depending on where you live you may not receive and therefore not pay for all of them. Your service charge estimate will show which ones you pay for.
Estate Repairs
These are day to day repairs and maintenance to the communal parts of your local area or estate, (e.g. walls and fences.)
Block Repairs
These are day to day repairs and maintenance to the communal parts of your block, (e.g. communal doors walls and fences.)
Estate Caretaking
Estate services carried out by caretaking and cleaning staff. This also includes one-off cleaning by contractors, etc. plus a proportion of the caretaker’s salary, supervision, overheads, telephone and accommodation charges
Block Caretaking
This covers block services carried out by caretaking and cleaning staff. This also includes one-off cleaning by contractors, etc. plus a proportion of the caretaker’s salary, supervision, overheads, telephone and accommodation charges
Estate Grounds maintenance
This includes grass cutting, maintenance of flower beds, planting, pruning and tree work on estate land. The work may be carried out by maintenance contractors or our own staff.
Block Grounds maintenance
This includes grass cutting, maintenance of flower beds, planting, pruning and tree work around your block. The work may carried out by maintenance contractors or our own staff.
Estate Rubbish collections
This includes charges for collection removal and disposal of bulk rubbish left on the estate, where we do not know who was responsible for leaving it there.
Block rubbish collection
This includes charges for collections removal and disposal of bulk rubbish left in the block where we do not know who was responsible for leaving it there.
Communal lighting repairs
This covers items such as repairs and bulbs for lighting footways, paths and grounds
Lifts
This covers running the lift service including the electricity, the costs of inspections and repairs and maintenance to ensure the lifts are in working order
Building insurance
Your share of the cost of insuring the building where you live including the structure of your flat
TV aerials
This is a charge for the use (and maintenance) of communal TV aerials
Community alarms
The testing, contract and upkeep of the community alarm system
Door entry
The cost of running and maintaining door entry systems in those blocks which have them
Electricity
This is for the cost of electricity used for communal lighting
Fire fighting equipment and fire alarms
The maintenance and running of the fire fighting equipment and alarms
Window Cleaning
The cost of cleaning the inside and outside of the communal windows in your block on a twice yearly basis.
Abandoned Vehicles
This is for the cost of removal of abandoned vehicles from your estate.
Ground rent
A fixed annual fee which is specified in your lease
Communal Heating
This is the cost of heating if it is a communal heating system that is the source.
Administration
A charge of 15% (or £50 minimum) of the total main service charge (not including the ground rent) is made on each invoice. This is a charge to cover administration and processing of service charge accounts.
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