About your leaseholder service charges

Your invoice shows the total of the quarterly service charges for the property services you receive.  The individual services that make up the total charge are outlined below.

Your service charges may have changed this year. The estimated service charges 2007/8 have been recalculated to take account of the cost of services to your flat block during last year.

The total charge does not include the cost of major works or improvements to your block. If such works are needed you will be consulted and given details of the costs in advance of work starting, and only charged for work after it has been completed.

We will recalculate the costs for the year April 2006 to March 2007 based on the actual cost of providing the services to blocks of flats and expect to write to leaseholders by October 2007 giving details.  Any adjustments found necessary will then be made to service charge accounts.

If you have any questions about your Service Charges Invoice, please contact the Customer Service Centre on 01438 242666 which will be able to give assistance.

About your Service Charges

Caretaking & Cleaning Service Charge

A Reactive Caretaker Service is provided to all blocks of flats. Caretakers respond to tenants complaints about issues such as health & safety, emergency cleaning and removal of items causing obstruction and posing a danger to residents.

Residents in larger blocks with special features such as lifts, extensive communal areas, large bin stores etc will also be charged for an additional Regular Caretaker Service.

The quarterly charge made to leaseholders is the total of both the Reactive and the Regular service charge. Both charges vary from block to block.

For enquiries about the caretaking service, please call the Customer Service Centre.

Electricity Service Charge

This charge is for the cost of the lighting in the communal, courtyard and entrance areas of blocks of flats. It also includes the cost of any electricity used for lifts and laundry rooms. The amount charged varies from block to block, where applicable.

Landscape Gardening Service Charge

This charge is for the maintenance of the landscape and communal areas around blocks of flats. Grass is cut at least eight times a year and shrub beds cultivated twice a year. The amount charged varies from block to block, where applicable.

Find out more about landscape gardening.

Window Cleaning Service Charge

Window cleaning to the communal areas of blocks of flats will be carried out four times a year. A clean of plastic sills and panels in communal areas will be carried out twice a year. The amount charged varies from block to block, where applicable.

The window cleaning service does not include the cleaning of your own flat windows.

For enquiries about window cleaning, please call the Customer Service Centre.

Heating Service Charge

Residents of blocks of flats with communal heating/hot water pay a charge for the fuel supply costs. This is being increased to pay for the higher cost of gas. The amount charged varies from block to block, where applicable.

Cable TV Service Charge

Virgin Media provides a TV service to some leaseholders under a contract with the Council.  The charge to leaseholders for this service is £12.15 per quarter (which is the full cost of the service charged by Virgin Media to Stevenage Homes, plus VAT). If you subscribe to other Virgin Media services, such as telephone or pay TV channels, you will receive a credit for this charge on your Virgin Media bill.

For enquiries about Virgin Media's service, please call their freephone number: 0845 454 0000.

Insurance Service Charge

This charge is for the Buildings Insurance of the structure of the block of flats. The charge to you for this service will be £16.92 per quarter.

You must still arrange your own insurance for the contents of your home. The Buildings Insurance, which you pay for through your Service Charges, only covers the structure and communal parts of the block of flats. Home Contents Insurance for Tenants and Leaseholders is available from a number of insurance providers.

Find out more about arranging Home Contents Insurance.

Painting Service Charge

This charge is for the painting of the exterior and communal areas of blocks of flats.  The service includes the exterior painting of your front door and windows. If you have Upvc front door or windows, the plastic will be washed down. The amount charged varies from block to block.

Repairs Service Charge

This charge is for the day to day repair of the structure and communal areas of blocks of flats. The amount charged varies from block to block.

To report repairs for your block of flats, please click here or telephone the repairs line on  01438 211011.  Please remember to say you are a leaseholder asking for a communal repair.

Management Charge

This charge is for the administration of the service to leaseholders. The charge to you is 12% of the total service charges on your invoice.