As a leaseholder you have to pay your property’s share of our costs in managing and maintaining the building in which your property is situated and any communal areas.
Your service charge is the money that you have to pay towards the day-to-day running costs of your building, as well as its repair and improvement. Your lease tells you which services you must pay for, and the proportion that you must pay.
Each lease varies but you may contribute to the following elements where they apply to your building:
- caretaking services
- heating, lighting and cleaning of communal entrances and areas
- communal television aerials
- fire safety equipment
- door entry systems
- day-to day repairs
- maintenance of communal gardens
- maintenance of boundary fences and walls
- management and administration costs
- buildings insurance
- major works and improvements.
You should refer to your service charge certificate or lease to identify which elements relate to your building. If you are within the first 5 years of your lease your service charge will be subject to the maximum charges that were set out when the property was purchased from us.
The proportion of the costs that you pay is also set out in your lease. It is usually the total cost divided by the number of properties in your block (except where the work is specific to your property, for example new windows). Service charges are calculated by the leasehold services team, if you have any queries regarding your charges please contact them.
Email: leaseholdservices@eastriding.gov.uk
Tel: (01482) 396301
If you believe that we are charging you incorrectly please let us know. If you are not happy with our response you have the right to refer the matter to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), further information can be found on the gov.uk website.
GOV.UK - First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) (external website)
This information only applies to council leasehold properties that were originally purchased under the right to buy scheme. For information on other council leasehold properties please contact our valuations and estates team.
Tel: (01482) 393998