Frequently Asked Question

How is the Service Charge Spent?

Your Annual Service Charge is allocated based on current UK biodiversity legislation to achieve Favourable Conservation Status (FCS), and in line with the management requirements agreed with the Local Planning Authority as part of the original planning application.

For the first year of management, we estimate the service charge based on the details provided to us by the developer. From Year two onwards, we charge management in arrears, meaning that you only ever pay for the works that were actually undertaken in the previous year. This method of charging ensures residents are only ever charged for works that have already taken place.

We also provide updates to the regular visits on the residents’ web page, which can be found under “Your Site Maintenance”. This ensures our residents can see what works have taken place and when.

The service charge includes (but is not exclusively):

• Time onsite;
• Materials;
• Salaries;
• Travel time and mileage to and from sites and any waste facilities or similar.

The administration contribution includes professional charges and all desk-based functions within the business that are necessary to deliver the service we provide to our residents. Examples include:

• The provision of the online helpdesk;
• A Residents’ web site;
• Email/telephone support services;
• Standard and financial administration relating to your site.

Also included in these costs are

• Payroll obligations;
• Buildings (including utilities);
• Transport costs (vehicle maintenance etc.)

The Managerial Overview includes (but is not restricted to):

• Director level input
• Ensuring we stay in line with statutes, standards and approved policies for biodiversity protection and enhancement and the approved planning permission.

The Managing Agents fee includes tasks such as:

• Updating and maintaining lists of resident names and addresses in manner appropriate to GDPR.
• Dealing with Housing Associations, including shared ownership and staircasing issues.
• Dealing with initial legal queries relating to property ownerships and responsibilities.
• Upholding the company’s Debt Recovery procedure and general credit control
• Issuing service charge bills, reminders, enforcement information.
• Land Registry checks.
• Secure banking facilities.
• Keeping records of each individual resident’s payment account and reporting arrears balances.
• Collecting and distributing monies.
• Answering account queries to individual residents, where input is required.

Your annual bill gives you a breakdown of costs, and includes a summary sheet of works that are generally included within the service charge, and those which will incur an additional fee (such as vandalism, graffiti etc.)