Service charge descriptions

Your service charges explained

Below are some of the service charges that may be charged to Riverside customers. The services delivered change from area to area depending on the external communal areas and the type of home they live in.

You can click on these below to find out what each service charge includes.

Communal Area charges

Communal gardening and landscaping

Maintenance of the grounds around the communal areas

Tree works

Regular management of trees around the communal areas

Pest control

Management and prevention of pests in communal areas

Fly tipping / bulk waste removal

Bin hire and the professional removal of fly tipping

Communal cleaning

Cleaning internal communal areas of a building e.g. block of flats

Window cleaning

Cleaning communal external windows on a building e.g. block of flats

Safety checks charges

Water Hygiene Maintenance & Servicing

Regular risk assessments and maintenance to ensure Riverside meets regulatory compliance e.g. legionella testing

Fire safety

Regular risk assessments and fire equipment maintenance to ensure Riverside meets regulatory compliance e.g. fire doors

Electric testing

Regular testing of electrical items to ensure they are safe

Utilities charges

Communal gas, electricity and water charges

Any use of gas, electricity and water in communal areas e.g. lighting in communal corridors

Private utility charges

Private gas, electricity and water

Any use of gas, electricity and water where there is a supply to individual homes e.g. gas heating and hot water systems

Service and maintenance charges

Auto Access Door Maintenance & Servicing

Regular servicing and repairs to door entry systems

Lift maintenance & servicing

Regular servicing and repairs to communal lifts

TV Aerial Maintenance and Servicing

Regular servicing and repairs to TV ariels

Car Park Barrier Maintenance & Servicing

Regular servicing and maintenance to barrier entry systems to car parks

Air Conditioning Maintenance & Servicing

Regular servicing and maintenance to air conditioning in communal areas

CCTV Maintenance and Servicing

Regular servicing and maintenance to CCTV cameras and equipment

Lightning Protection

Regular servicing and maintenance to lightning protection on the roof of a building

Call System Maintenance & Servicing

Regular servicing and maintenance of call response systems, also known as ‘warden call’

Laundry Equip Maintenance & Servicing

Regular servicing & repairs of communal laundry equipment

Other charges

Licence fee

This is the TV licence fee for televisions used in communal areas

Building Insurance

Cost of insuring the building – customers are responsible for their own contents insurance

Income

A reduction in the service charge to support customers

Service Charge Subsidy

A reduction in the service charge to support customers

Management fee

Covers the management and supervision of services at each scheme

Balancing Charge

Outlines an under or over collection of service charge from the previous financial year

Personal Charges

Are for services personal to each customer. These services are not covered by Housing Benefit and Universal Credit, and are the responsibility of the customer

Usage charges

Communal Furniture Usage Charge

This the cost of an item spread over several years based on how long it’s expected to be fit for purpose

Sinking funds and provisions

Door entry sinking fund

Sinking funds are collected from leaseholders to cover the cost of repairs, renewals and replacements. The fund ensures that leaseholders avoid having to pay large bills when work needs to be carried out, such as replacing a damaged roof

CCTV sinking fund

Sinking funds are collected from leaseholders to cover the cost of repairs, renewals and replacements. The fund ensures that leaseholders avoid having to pay large bills when work needs to be carried out, such as replacing a damaged roof

TV aerial sinking fund

Sinking funds are collected from leaseholders to cover the cost of repairs, renewals and replacements. The fund ensures that leaseholders avoid having to pay large bills when work needs to be carried out, such as replacing a damaged roof

Lift sinking fund

Sinking funds are collected from leaseholders to cover the cost of repairs, renewals and replacements. The fund ensures that leaseholders avoid having to pay large bills when work needs to be carried out, such as replacing a damaged roof

Laundry sinking fund

Sinking funds are collected from leaseholders to cover the cost of repairs, renewals and replacements. The fund ensures that leaseholders avoid having to pay large bills when work needs to be carried out, such as replacing a damaged roof

Communal furniture sinking fund

Sinking funds are collected from leaseholders to cover the cost of repairs, renewals and replacements. The fund ensures that leaseholders avoid having to pay large bills when work needs to be carried out, such as replacing a damaged roof

Community alarm sinking fund

Sinking funds are collected from leaseholders to cover the cost of repairs, renewals and replacements. The fund ensures that leaseholders avoid having to pay large bills when work needs to be carried out, such as replacing a damaged roof

Leasehold tree work sinking fund

Sinking funds are collected from leaseholders to cover the cost of repairs, renewals and replacements. The fund ensures that leaseholders avoid having to pay large bills when work needs to be carried out, such as replacing a damaged roof

Tree work provision

Provisions are the same as Sinking Funds and are collected to cover the cost of future works

Cyclical provision

This covers costs for works that are done routinely in a cycle of years, like external or internal painting

Capital provision

This covers costs for future repairs, renewals and replacements