Service Charges Consultation

Service charges are an amount that tenants pay to cover the cost of providing communal or shared services to a building and, if applicable, the surrounding grounds. There are also some tenants who pay for their domestic heating and/or electric through a service charge.

We're committed to providing all our tenants with value for money, quality services and do not make a profit from the money we collect.

Currently tenants are expected to pay a weekly charge to cover the cost of services provided, alongside the rent. The rent includes the cost of providing repairs and replacement items such as boilers, kitchens and bathrooms.

Currently the Council is not recovering all the money it spends on providing communal services. Some tenants are not paying enough, and others are not charged at all. We need to change this approach and propose to implement some changes from April 2024. We also want to ensure you can see an itemised break down of the cost of each service you receive.

The Council is proposing to:

·      Itemise the cost of each service a tenant receives to give clarity on the cost of providing them e.g. cleaning, communal lighting and heating.

·      Ensure service charges reflect the actual cost of providing services.

·      Introduce charges for communal services which tenants do not currently pay for

·      Charge tenants who receive communal services but don’t currently pay for them.