Services Charges

Shepherds Bush Housing Group aims to provide an efficient, cost effective service to its tenants in respect of service charges that is well organised, of a good quality and well accounted for. It aims to provide a system of service charge calculation that will be affordable and charged at a reasonable level.

We will ensure that:

• a timetable will be drawn up to ensure that all work relating to service charges is carried out
• tenants are consulted on a yearly basis on the type, quality and cost of the service charge by a series of service charge meetings, where appropriate
• tenants will all receive a clear schedule of scheme charges annually
• the actual costs of the service charge for one year will set the costs for the following year
• extra items will only be added into the calculation after consultation and agreement with the tenants
• the service contracts will be monitored for frequency, quality and costs and will be retendered on a best value basis
• care will be taken in setting the charge and not to exceed the rent caps introduced in the Group's Rent Policy
• equipment and the servicing of that equipment will attract a service charge, but a view will be taken if the charge is minimal and not worth collection. The under collection of charges will be monitored and reported to the Association's Housing Operations Sub Committee.
• sheltered schemes will have their own schedule which will show warden costs and other charges relating to the scheme, and yearly meetings in the schemes will be set up to explain the service charge
• a maintenance sinking fund will be set up for items such as unadopted roads, unadopted lighting etc.

New service charges
Shepherds Bush Housing Association will organise and implement new service charges for properties

• where there is a need
• where there has not been one previously
• in consultation and agreement with the affected tenants.