A service charge is a charge connected to facilities or services that are related to your home, but do not form a part of your actual property as outlined in your lease or tenancy agreement. We organise and pay for these services, then pass the charge on to all residents affected via the service charge. Some service charges may be personal to you where they relate to your individual property, such as personal electricity, heating and water supply. You can find the full list of additional services we provide as a part of your service charge payment within this article.
Housing benefit and Universal Credit cover most communal charges but NOT any charge that is personal to you.
(PLEASE NOTE: Not all services will be applicable to your property.)
This charge covers:
- Any bank charges
- External audit fees associated with the annual audit of your service charge accounts
- If your scheme has a loan with Jigsaw Homes in relation to any major works, where the sinking fund was insufficient.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
The cost incurred for daily monitoring and emergency response at your scheme.
This charge is for your buildings insurance. A summary of your policy can be downloaded here>>
This charge is for the maintenance, repairs and servicing of carparks around your specific block. Any Public Liability Insurance required is also covered within this charge.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
Caretaking
- The service provided by a caretaker at our blocks
- It covers caretaker salaries, rent, agency staff, equipment and uniforms.
Mobile Cleaning
- The cleaning of all communal areas, such as communal entry doors, stairwells and corridors leading to properties. For sheltered schemes, this will also include the cleaning of communal rooms, communal kitchens and bathrooms
- Salaries, agency staff, cleaning materials, fly-tipping, litter picking, vehicle hire and insurance
- Communal cleaning contractors
- Internal Fire Check.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This charge includes servicing, repairs and maintenance of the static CCTV system within a block.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This charge covers the removal of any clinical waste.
This charge is for the cost of the annual servicing and any day to day repairs to the specialist bathroom equipment at your scheme.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
The charge covers the electricity in the communal areas.
The charge covers the heating of communal areas.
This charge is to cover the costs of the laundry equipment, repairs to white goods and duct cleans. It also covers any repairs to external washing lines/rotary lines for those schemes where there is no internal laundry.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This charge is for the communal water supply within your block. It also covers the ongoing maintenance and any repair works that may need to be done.
This covers any cost associated with the communal door entry to a block, including call-outs for maintenance and repairs.
Where applicable, it covers the telephone line required for some door entry systems.
This charge is for the service, maintenance, and repair of the fire alarm system. It also includes the service and replacement of fire extinguishers for your block if there are any.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This covers all services required for the upkeep of communal grounds. This includes the grounds within your block and open communal spaces within your area that are unadopted (meaning they are not maintained by your local authority). This includes gardeners, salaries, agency staff, equipment, repairs, tipping waste, pest control and vehicle hire.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This covers any income or expenditure for the guest flat in your block.
This service provides assistance to residents in ensuring that they are capable of sustaining their tenancies.
This charge is for the water supply to your laundry room within your block.
This charge covers the servicing contract, insurance, call-outs and repairs to the lifts within your block. Where applicable it covers any sim cards needed for the lift service.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This is to cover the administration of tendering for new contractors, managing contracts, dealing with queries and complaints, checking and paying invoices, and preparing and issuing service charge statements.
The cost of providing a daily meal service.
This charge covers the maintenance of:
- Lightening protection
- Clean and descale of any water tanks
- Repairs to communal lights
- Portable appliance testing
- Dry risers
- Sewage pumps
- Pump permit costs
- Repairs and servicing of air conditioning units
- Repairs to extractor fans
- Electric vehicle charging columns
- Electrical testing
- Legionella risk assessments
- Repairs and servicing pumps.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This charge covers electricity within your individual property.
This charge covers gas within your individual property.
This charge is for personal water usage within your property.
This service is for the annual servicing and maintenance of the digital aerial in a block.
The cost of any day to day repairs carried out on electric gates at your scheme in the year.
This charge is for the replacement of communal furniture and equipment, repairs to furniture and the decoration of communal areas.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This charge is for the scheme manager and associated office costs at your scheme. This includes salaries, rent, utilities, office equipment, H&S costs and PPE.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This is for the prior year under or over spend, relating to your service charge accounts from the previous year.
The cost paid by the Association to any external management company for the provision of services at your scheme.
This charge covers the TV Licence, which allows for the use of a television in the communal areas within your scheme.
This charge is a provision in our specialist supported schemes, to cover lost income when room(s) are unoccupied.
This charge is for the alarm line rental and monitoring costs, emergency mobile response and call system.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
This charge is for the window cleaning carried out at our blocks and sheltered schemes.
(Please note that not all of these services will be applicable to your block.)
