Day-to-day service charges

Part of: Leaseholder service charges and invoices

A service charge is a payment you make towards the costs of services and work carried out to the building and estate. As the freeholder, the council is responsible for maintaining the structure of the whole building and the communal areas.

The costs incurred by us are passed back to you on a proportional basis through the service charge. The council pays the proportion relating to the rent-paying tenants, which is then recharged to them through the rent they pay. It is important to note that the cost of the service to tenants is not subsidised in any way by leaseholders.

The day-to-day service charges cover day-to-day services, ground rent and routine repairs and maintenance to your block and estate.

The charge is estimated annually and an invoice for the estimated cost is sent to leaseholders in February each year. By the end of September each year you will receive a letter detailing how much the actual cost was, and the difference between this sum and the estimated sum.

Estimated service charge

We send the Estimated Service Charge  to you in February each year. We estimate what it will cost to provide services to your building, based on the most recent actual costs that we have.

Under the terms of your lease, this invoice is payable quarterly in advance. The quarter days are:

  • 25 March
  • 24 June
  • 29 September 
  • 25 December.

However, if you pay the invoice in full before 30 April, then we will give you a £15 or £25 discount, depending on the services that your building receives. You can also choose to pay your invoice by direct debit in 12 monthly instalments from April to March.

Actual service charge

We send this to you over the summer each year, usually in September. We calculate the actual cost of providing services to your building and estate, and then work out your proportion. If this is less than your Estimated Service Charge from the previous year, then we raise a credit on your account. If it is more, then we send you an invoice for the difference.

This invoice is payable within 21 days of the date of issue. However, you can also pay by direct debit in monthly instalments, from the date of issue to March the following year.