How is my service charge is calculated 

 

We calculate your individual contribution (for most services) based on the ‘Gross Rateable Value’ (GRV) of your property, this method of valuation is carried forward from the old ‘Rates’ systems. 

 

More about how your service charge is calculated

Once we know the cost of providing services to the block and estate we are able to break it down to an individual property level, it is your individual contribution that will appear on your service charge invoice.

For example, if the cost of providing cleaning to your block is £2000 and there are 10 properties in your block with an identical GRV of 340 then the calculation would go as follows:

10 properties x 340 = 3400 (Block GRV)

 

£2000 (Cost of block cleaning)

__________________________   X 340 (Property GRV) = £200

3400 (Block GRV)

 

Often there will be properties of varying GRV’s in a single block so costs may vary slightly depending on the GRV of your property.

If all properties in your block were leasehold properties we would recover from leaseholders 100% of the cost of managing and maintaining the block.  However few blocks fall into this category and the majority of our blocks are mixed tenure, having a combination of leaseholders and secure Council tenants.  Whether you are the only leaseholder in the block or the block is exclusively leaseholders you will still pay the same contribution as we pay the tenants proportion and this is then reflected in their rent. 

 

Services, what they cover and how we calculate your charge

 

Administration Charge

General enquiries to the leasehold customer services and arrears recovery teams.

The administration charge is a flat rate regardless of the size of your property.

 

Management Fees

Calculation and preparation of service charges.

Management costs of the Neighbourhood Housing Office.

We apportion the total management costs of your neighbourhood on the basis of your property’s GRV. There are additional costs for managing all your services such as repairs, maintenance and concierge. You only pay management costs for services you receive.

 

Block Cleaning

Cleaning of communal areas within the block including stairs, corridors, refuse chutes, lifts and common areas.

We apportion the total cleaning costs of your block on the basis of your property’s GRV.

 

Estate Cleaning

Cleaning provided to the communal area surrounding your block (mapsite).

We apportion the cleaning costs of your communal area on the basis of your property’s GRV.

 

Block Repairs

Communal repairs to your block, such as works to roofs, window frames and tank rooms.

We base this on the GRV of each property as a percentage of the block GRV.

 

Estate Repairs

Repair works carried out to the communal areas surrounding your block, such as works to railings, fences and paths.

We base this on the GRV of each property as a percentage of your communal area’s GRV.

 

Lift Maintenance

Cost of maintenance to lifts such as breakdown repair costs and servicing.

We base this on the GRV of each property as a percentage of the Block GRV. Ground floor properties are included in the calculation of these charges.

 

Concierge

Onsite porter and mobile patrol.

We base this on the GRV of each property as a percentage of the Block GRV.

 

Boiler Maintenance

Servicing and repair of communal boilers.

We base our calculations on a points system.

Heating points are calculated by the number of radiators or heating appliances within your property. Hot water points are calculated by the number of hot water taps in your property. Boiler points are a combination of heating and hot water points within your property.

We apportion charges based on your property’s boiler points as a percentage of your block’s boiler points.

 

Refuse Containers

Hire and maintenance of the paladin bins. Excludes the clearing of the bins.

We base this on the GRV of each property as a percentage of the block’s GRV.

 

Horticultural Maintenance

Ground maintenance costs, such as pruning trees and grass mowing in the communal areas surrounding your block.

We base this on the GRV of each property as a percentage of your communal area’s GRV.

 

Boiler Fuel

Either gas or electricity costs for the hot water and/or heating supplied by a communal boiler.

We base this on a property’s boiler points (see above) as a percentage of the block’s boiler points.

 

Door Entry System Maintenance

Repair and maintenance costs for the communal door entry systems on a block.

We base this on the GRV of each property as a percentage of the block’s GRV. Ground floor properties are included in the calculation of these charges.

 

TV Aerial Maintenance

Repair and maintenance of your communal TV aerials that can serve more than one block.

This is based on the GRV of each property as a percentage of the total GRV’s served by the TV aerial.