Rent and service charges 2022

Fixed service charges 

In line with your tenancy agreement, fixed service charges are set for the year ahead based on the known costs. Any unknown costs are calculated using previous years accounts for your building or estate, with an increase to account for inflation. We also consider any information we have about service changes that may happen during the year. 

Fixed service charges are different from variable service charges, which are paid by homeowners, and are not re-calculated at the end of the year. This means that should the costs for your building or estate be overspent at the end of the year, we cannot come back to you to request any further money. It also means that should the building or estate be under spent; no money will be returned to you. 

We provide a wide range of services. The services we provide differ depending on where you live and the local facilities available. Not everyone receives these services as it’s not always possible to provide them in your area. Here are a few examples of the services that may be included in your service charge: 

• Caretaking 
• Cleaning and window cleaning- communal 
• Gardening of communal areas 
• Lighting/ heating in communal areas 
• Fire safety protection 

Full details of the service charges applied to you can be found in the booklet specified in your rent letter. 

Not all services are paid for via your service charge. If you’re a tenant, for example, your rent includes an element covering general repairs, decorating and buildings insurance. 

Within your rent notice you will be provided with the details of the services you receive, and the costs associated with providing each element. Please reference the booklet referred to in your rent letter for full details. 

This used to be referred to as a Warden Call Out. This service supports residents in the event of a resident activating their pendant or speech module the call will be actioned by Tunstall Response in the first instance and passed to the bpha 24/7 Visiting Support Team if a call out is deemed necessary. 

Energy prices are at an all-time high. The increase is driven by a record rise in global gas prices over the last 6 months, with wholesale prices quadrupling in the last year 

The energy price cap will increase from 1 April for approximately 22 million customers.  

Government policy and legislation is changing to address fire safety concerns in some types of housing and to start to prepare the housing stock for a future without fossil fuel burning heating systems and where net carbon neutral is the norm.  The cost of managing housing assets is therefore increasing as we change our services and standards to address the new guidance. In June 2021 we appointed a Building Safety Manager to manage our highest risk buildings and further develop our plans to enable our assets to be carbon neutral by 2050. During 2022-23 we will carry out more safety checks than ever before. 

• Scheme Management Charge – is a contribution towards a percentage of your scheme manager and scheme area managers salary costs.
• Management fee – is a contribution towards the costs of managing all leaseholder accounts, for example estimating and reconciling the service charge
• Management Company fee -is the cost charged by the external Management Company for the services they manage and maintain on the estate.

If you live in a sheltered or supported scheme, your service charge may include an amount to cover staff employed at the scheme, such as support workers, or costs associated with maintaining communal areas, such as gardens, laundry rooms and shared lounges. 

In the first instance, please contact either your neighbourhood housing officer or the customer contact centre who will be able to guide you to the right team. You can also email info@bpha.org.uk  

Please contact us, detailing which service you believe you do not receive and why. We will check this information, which can sometimes take a while – as we may need to visit the property or scheme, as well as contacting providers and checking accounts. If you are correct, we will adjust your account and credit you with your share of the relevant costs. Contact at Info@bpha.org.uk 

Please contact us, detailing which service was not up to standard. We will investigate, as well as liaise with the contract manager for the service, and respond to you.  
If the service failure is confirmed, we will credit you with your share of the relevant costs. If the services are provided by another company, for example a managing agent who provides services to a scheme, we will pass on your complaint to them, and let you know their response. To get in touch with us please email Info@bpha.org.uk 

If you have a service charge listed on our rent letter but no price next to them this means that your rent is inclusive of service charges. There is no need to do anything, this is correct.