Council home leaseholders

As your flat or maisonette is part of a block or is within a building that has more than just your home, you must pay a share of the costs for managing the building and services your home benefits from.

These services include:

• cleaning: buildings that have communal areas are cleaned by our cleaning contractors
• communal electric: this is the cost of lighting or electric heating to any communal area and entrances
• communal gas: the cost of communal gas heating systems
• buildings insurance: the premium is part of a block policy which covers all of our leasehold properties
• grounds maintenance: for blocks with communal grounds, they are maintained by us and our contractors and includes sweeping, mowing grass, pruning shrubs and trees and planting or re-planting where necessary
• response repairs: we are responsible for keeping the communal areas in good repair, this charge varies from year to year depending on the costs of repairs being carried out
• management administration: charged at a percentage, this includes planning and managing the contracts, providing contract specifications, monitoring contractors’ performance, staff ordering repairs and inspecting work before and after completion
• records and accounts charge: the cost of providing the leasehold service required under the terms of your lease and current legislation

How service charges are calculated

Your service charges for the year are an estimated charge and a breakdown of the estimated charges are sent to you in August every year.

At the end of the financial year, when all invoices for the previous year have come in and been settled, we can then calculate the exact service charge cost to you for that year.

The service charges cover the financial year, from April to March.

How to pay service charges

Payments are due within one month of the invoice date. You can pay in instalments. This must be completed before the end of May.

Find out how to pay your service charge.