Leaseholders

Service charges - what is included

Management and administration

This charge covers the cost of running our Leaseholder Services Team and Housing Management Services, who:

• work out and send you estimated and actual statements
• work out and send you bills
• collect rent and charges
• consult you about major work
• deal with your queries
• run our Estate Management service.

We calculate the charge by taking the total cost of management and dividing it by the number of leaseholders.

Heating and hot water

You may live in a property where we provide communal heating or hot water (or both).

In some blocks the communal heating is supplied through a direct-pay meter. In others, we share the cost of the service between all properties in the particular heating scheme.

With some types of communal heating system, we may be able to disconnect you from the system on request. If you live in a block with communal heating and would like to be disconnected so that you can have your own heating system, please contact Leaseholder Services on freephone 0800 40 80 160.

Communal electricity

This is your share of the cost of electricity that serves the block and estate. It pays for things like communal lighting, electrical security systems, water pumps and lifts. We calculate your share of this charge using the rateable value formula.

Paladin bins

This charge covers the cost of hiring and cleaning the bins. We calculate your share using the rateable value formula.

Concierge

Some of our blocks have a concierge service, where an officer is based within the block (or nearby) to control and monitor access to the block. They also carry out regular patrols and report repairs and incidents such as anti-social behaviour, noise pollution, fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles. A private security company carries out this service for us. The cost of the service is divided among all the properties in the block or estate that receive the service.

CCTV

This charge covers the running costs of the cameras and monitoring services. The cost is divided among all the properties in the block that receive the service.

Caretaking

This service is provided at 3 levels:

• residential, where the block is served by a Caretaker who lives in or near the block and carries out tasks daily, or
• non-residential, where a mobile caretaking unit visits every seven working days
• less frequent service for blocks with minimal cleaning requirements.

The charge reflects the level of service provided.

Responsive repairs and servicing

• To your block – This charge helps pay for day-to-day repairs and servicing to your block. It is calculated using the rateable value of your flat, which is set by the Valuation Office Agency.
• To your flat – You are responsible for maintaining the inside of your property. The council is responsible for repairing some items, such as the windows (including the frames, sashes and glass) and heating systems (if connected to a communal supply). You will have to pay towards the cost of these repairs after they have been done.

Major works

Your lease also requires you to pay your share of the costs of any major repairs to your building or estate, and generally any improvements that benefit you or your property.

Specific regulations require us to consult you before we do any major works costing more than £250 per leaseholder. The regulations are complicated but we provide a brief summary in the section 'Consultation on major works'.