Service charges
Your service charge is a weekly payment that covers the cost of communal services including gardening, cleaning of communal areas, lift maintenance etc. Some costs are included in your rent, like communal repairs and buildings insurance and these are not included.
The costs are split amongst everyone living on the site who benefits from those services. The amount you pay is actually just an estimate. At the end of the year, we calculate what we have actually spent and you then get a balancing charge.
The balancing charge is the difference between the estimated cost and what we actually spent and where we have underestimated the costs, an adjustment is made to your charge to collect this. Of course, if we have over-estimated, you will receive a refund.
Each year you will receive a statement with the full breakdown of the costs for your scheme and the cost to you personally.
Your service charge is paid with your weekly rent and it is just one total payment.