We include a breakdown of costs in your Service Charge statement, but here we have explained what some of the main headings cover.
The cleaning and removal of litter from your building or estate, including the stairs, landings, lobby areas, lifts, internal communal windows and bin stores.
The grounds maintenance of the external communal areas relating to your building or estate. This includes the cost of maintaining any communal green spaces, shrubs, plant beds, and parking and hard standing areas.
Window cleaning in communal areas of your building only.
The cost of supplying electricity for lifts, communal lighting, door entry systems and any external lighting.
The charge for the supply of communal water for cleaning of bin stores, communal windows and grounds maintenance.
The legally required Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) of the communal parts of your building. FRAs are carried out at regular intervals. The cost varies between buildings, dependent on the type and level of assessment required.
The servicing and maintenance of any fire alarms, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and other health and safety equipment located in the communal areas of your building.
General repairs to the communal parts of your block or estate that are not excluded (by Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985).
The regular servicing and checks of lifts. This cost also includes any maintenance and repairs to your lifts.
The maintenance and repair of the door entry systems provided to your building.
The maintenance, repair and servicing of any communal gate systems provided to your estate.
The prevention of and treatment for pests in the internal and external communal areas of your building or estate.
The cost of pruning and lopping of any trees or shrubs in the external communal areas of your building or estate.
Covers services or works relating to Health and Safety undertaken to your building or estate.
The testing of any portable appliances or fixed wire testing in the communal areas of your building.
The servicing and maintenance of any water pumps located in your building or on your estate.
The testing of water supplies and storage tanks/systems to combat Legionella.
The costs associated with any bin hire arrangements.
This covers the removal of bulk refuse and fly tipping from your building or estate.
Where an external managing agent is responsible for some or all of the services or works to your building or estate.
Charges made for the replacement of any capital items or for installing a new capital item which is not paid for in the rent. This is commonly known as depreciation. This could include for example, the replacement of a lift. The cost is then spread over a few years (the lifecycle of that item).
Through ‘depreciation’ you pay a small amount each week towards the cost of the repair or replacement of expensive capital items.
Note that major structural or exterior works such as new windows or a new roof are not charged for in this way as the replacement costs of these items are included within your rent.
This covers our administration and overhead costs in providing services to you. The administration fee is currently 18% of your service charge.
If you would like an explanation of a service charge identified on your breakdown that is not listed, please contact your neighbourhood customer service officer.