A service charge is a payment that is made towards the cost of North Devon Homes providing and maintaining communal services where you live.
We work out the service charges according to the number of properties which benefit from receiving those services. The service charge is based on a calculation of the costs of providing each individual service for the coming year. We may then need to adjust this to take into account any difference that has arisen from the previous year’s charges.
What is included in a service charge?
The items that are covered by a service charge will vary depending upon the property in which you live. You may not have a charge for some of the services. Outlined below are the service charge descriptions and an explanation of what is included:
Communal Electricity
Lighting of communal areas, internal and external, plus the costs of running any other communal appliances, for example washing machines at some sites.
Communal Heating
Heating of communal areas, for example hallways and common rooms.
Communal Water
Supply of water to communal areas, for example laundries, common rooms and outside taps.
Communal Cleaning
Cleaning of communal areas; this could be inside and/or outside and includes contract cleaning, cleaning materials and communal area pest control. Cleaning charges are reduced by any income generated from the hire of communal facilities.
Estate Management Services (including Grounds Maintenance)
Including, but not limited to, car parking permits, skips, abandoned vehicles, general caretaking duties, grass cutting, hedge cutting, maintenance of shrub beds, weed spraying, play areas, tree works, litter picking and contract monitoring. Estate management company charges may also be included.
Door Entry System
Upkeep and maintenance of a door entry system or phone.
Fire Alarms, Equipment and Emergency Lighting
The maintenance of fire alarm and emergency lighting systems and the periodic testing, repair and replacement of firefighting equipment. This includes fire extinguishers, hose reels, sprinkler systems and contract monitoring.>>
Laundry
Any costs relating to communal laundry facilities.
Lift Maintenance
Provision, maintenance and servicing of any lifts.
Communal Aerial
Provision and maintenance of communal TV aerial system.
Housing Management Services (sometimes also known as Sheltered Housing Management Services / SHMS)
Housing management activity delivered by NDH support staff.
Alarm (Hardwired)
Upkeep and maintenance of a hardwired alarm system.
Individual Electric
Supply of electricity to individual properties which are not separately metered, but connected to a communal system.
Individual Heating
Supply of gas to individual properties which are not separately metered, but connected to a communal system.
Biomass Boiler
Costs related to the running of a biomass boiler.
Septic Tank
Regular emptying of septic tanks in rural areas, with no mains drainage system.
Capital Equipment Cost
General wear and tear of communal equipment, for example lifts and washing machines.
Management Fee
We charge a fee of 10% to cover the management of the service charges.
