Types of service charge costs

Depending on your home and the services you receive, you may be required to pay for one or more service charge elements.

The list below covers all types of Arun District Council properties.

Bulk rubbish removal If rubbish has been left, we have to clean it up and recharge customers, unless we are advised who dumped it, in which case we will try to recharge who left it.
Communal cleaning This is usually for the cleaning of the communal areas in a block, but may include some external areas such as disinfecting bin enclosures.
Communal heating Generally charged on developments which have a communal system supplying the heating and hot water. If the system supplies your home in this way we will split the consumption between individual use and common parts. Can also cover the cost of communal heating without a communal system.
Communal electricity The cost of communal electricity to your block. In some cases, this may include the cost to supply power to communal TV aerials, lifts and lighting.
Communal lighting The cost of scheduled emergency lighting testing as well as replacement or repair, when needed, of communal lighting external and internal.
Emergency lighting systems The maintenance and testing of our emergency lighting systems.
Fire alarm system The maintenance and testing of our fire alarm systems.
Communal lift maintenance This covers the servicing and maintenance of passenger lifts.
Door entry system The maintenance and testing of our door entry systems.
Legionnaires testing Communal water tanks require testing and checking for water standards compliance.
Grounds maintenance Includes all grounds maintenance such as grass cutting, weeding shrubs and beds as required. It may also include sweeping paths and car parks and litter picking.
Window cleaning The cost of cleaning communal windows at blocks of flats.
CCTV Servicing of CCTV equipment.
TV aerial maintenance Costs for the hiring of the equipment and/or servicing of the communal aerial system.
Communal water Personal water and sewage rates charged directly from the water utility company and recovered from you.
Heating Generally charged on developments which have a communal system supplying the heating and hot water. This is the charge for individual use of heating and hot water.
Administration charge at 10% Administering and managing the services listed in your service charge statement. It covers staff cost for dealing with income collection, setting service charges, carrying out consultation, dealing with enquiries and complaints.
Service charges on all Arun District Council properties
Element Description

The table below shows separate costs which only leaseholders contribute towards within their service charges. We do not charge tenants these costs as they are already collected within the rent they pay.

Please note that the rent contribution from shared owners only covers our borrowing costs for the retained part of the property and any reference to homeowners includes shared owners.

Communal repairs and improvements Costs relating to communal repairs or improvements carried out during the year to the block or external areas of your neighbourhood.
Insurance (buildings) Arun District Council is obliged to insure the building in which you live under the terms of your lease, against risks such as fire and flood. The homeowner is also obligated to pay for this service.
Management fee This is the cost of managing and administrating leaseholders. This includes staff time in calculating and reconciling accounts, inspection of estates and maintenance issues, dealing with queries.
Ground rent The fee a leaseholder pays to the freeholder for the right to occupy the land the property is built on. The lease agreement specifies the amount of ground rent that must be paid.
Service charges only payable by leaseholders
Home ownership element Description

How do we monitor the services you pay for?

We conduct estate inspections of the buildings and estates we manage, and these are carried out monthly, quarterly or every six months.

During these inspections, we review the cleanliness and condition of your communal areas to make sure you're receiving the services you should. 

If we provide services to the building you live in or the areas surrounding your home, we'll also gather your feedback in a number of ways to make sure you're satisfied with the services you pay for:

  • we carry out telephone and online surveys with a random selection of customers, and these give us a more detailed picture of satisfaction levels
  • through consulting with you about changes to services, repairs, maintenance and improvements covered by your service charge

Your feedback shapes the requirements we set for suppliers.

If you have any questions about your charges, please email service.charge@arun.gov.uk.