Service Charge groups
Below, you'll find details about the types of costs that may be included in your service charge. Don’t worry—you’ll only be charged for the services provided to your block, not everything listed here. You can check your statement and get an explanation for each charge here.
|
Service Charge name |
Explanation of charges |
Leasehold / Shared Ownership |
Rented incl. Affordable, intermediate / market rent |
|
Audit Fees |
For independently commissioned annual review of our service charges and ensure they are correct and fair. |
✓ |
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Building Insurance |
Provide building insurance for your block, protecting against any structural damage. If you are charged for this, it is estimated based on the value of your individual property. |
✓ |
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Building safety |
Fees relate to our response to ensure we comply with new building safety legislation to ensure our buildings are as safe as possible. |
✓ |
✓ |
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CCTV, satellite and aerial |
Costs for maintaining and operating any security cameras in communal areas and for maintaining shared television aerials for a clear signal. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Caretaking / cleaning service |
Cleaning of internal and external shared areas like entrances, hallways, bin stores, stairs. This includes cost of materials, equipment, deep cleans, and staff costs. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Bulk Rubbish |
The cost of removing rubbish from internal or external communal areas. such as furniture, which the council will not remove as part of the normal weekly collections. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Bin Hire |
Hire cost of bins- usually paid to the local council. The number of bins is based on the councils calculation of waste that will be produced by residents in the building. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Windows & Cleaning contractors |
Window cleaning for communal windows or open window areas. You are responsible for cleaning the windows inside your home. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Communal Utilities |
The cost of providing communal electricity, cold water heating and hot water. This is electricity used in shared spaces like hallways, lifts, door entry systems and outdoor lighting. This includes any safety and testing work. This can also include gas services in shared spaces, where applicable. This also includes laundry equipment and TV licence, which usually applies to our care and supported housing accommodation. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Cost of Provision (depreciation ) |
Costs where equipment is used over time and loses value. These would include safety equipment, door entry, lifts, solar panels, automatic gates, CCTV, satellite and aerials, any furniture and white goods we provide. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Council Tax |
The fee we pay for the Council Tax. This usually applies in shared accommodation and hostels |
|
✓ |
|
Direct Salaries |
Costs for employing a scheme manager for our care and support and retirement properties |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Emergency Light Testing |
When there is a power cut, emergency lighting will automatically switch on, so that there is still lighting inside internal communal hallways and stairwells. This cost is for regular testing of the lights. |
✓ |
✓ |
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Fall Arrest System |
These are secure wires installed on flat roofs, which any contractor working on the roof can secure themselves to using a safety harness. Fall Arrest systems require an annual safety check. |
✓ |
✓ |
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Fire safety |
These are the costs for servicing safety equipment such as lightening conductors, automatic opening vents, fire alarm panels. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Furniture, Furnishings, Laundry Equipment |
Cost of maintaining and replacing items in our care and supported accommodation |
|
✓ |
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Health and safety |
Any safety assessments and inspections, and electrical servicing. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Gardening |
The cost of gardening and external sweeping and litter picking. Gardening is normally more regular during spring and summer time, as plants and grass grow more quickly so require more frequent tending. This also includes tree works. |
✓ |
✓ |
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Legionella, Sewage & water pipes |
Cost for undertaking Legionella testing to the communal water supply to all blocks and properties. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Lift Servicing |
The cost for servicing, maintaining and repairing the lift. |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Management Fee |
The cost of organising and managing the services provided to your building (e.g. IT, income, production, communication, accounting, general overheads, debt recovery, consultations, calculating and managing services charges). We charge a set fee to leaseholders, shared owners and freeholders. The management fee for tenants is 15% of the entire service charge. |
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✓ |
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Managing agent costs |
For estates/blocks where we don't own the freehold and the freeholder employs a management company to provide services. These are for costs that are provided by the managing agent.eg. cleaning, repairs. The costs are based on their actual costs which they have invoiced Origin for. |
✓ |
✓ |
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Minor ad hoc repairs |
Costs for employing handypersons, materials and equipment to carry out minor repairs. |
|
✓ |
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Personal Cold Water |
Personal use of cold water. |
|
✓ |
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Personal Utilities |
Personal use of gas, electricity, and hot water. |
|
✓ |
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Repairs |
The cost of general repairs to the communal areas of the development (e.g. repairing a broken bin store door). |
✓ |
✓ |
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Reserve funds |
These are to cover the future replacements costs and include things like, door entry systems, roof replacement or repairs, window, lifts, solar panels or automatic gates and furniture and furnishing. |
✓ |
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Warden call services |
Staff costs for monitoring the alarm, servicing and providing onsite guest room |
|
✓ |