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