Cleaning

The contractor’s price will include the cost of cleaning including labour, materials, and equipment. The cleaning area will include shared areas such as a hallway and bin stores. Costs may also include cleaning the windows of the common parts and changing light bulbs. On some sites, we will also sweep the exterior of the building. The contractor provides details of each scheme.

On some large sites, we may employ a caretaker to carry out these services.

Estate maintenance

If there are communal grounds or larger areas on an estate shared with others, we will maintain common grassed areas, and pruning shrubs. General contract prices for these services usually provide for maintenance, and do not include the costs of replanting or pruning trees. Contractors will charge additional prices when this is required.

Lighting and electrics in shared parts

Most communal buildings have lighting in hallways and outside including parking area. There may also be electrical running costs for additional items such as lifts, alarms, and mechanical cleaning equipment. 

Lifts

In some buildings, there are lift facilities. The cost details relate to repair, maintenance and servicing, including emergency telephone lines.

Repairs and maintenance

In most cases (not houses) where we own the freehold, we are responsible for maintaining shared areas and the structure of the building. You are responsible for paying your share of the costs of maintaining communal parts and the cost of repair work carried out to the structure.

We have agreed priority response for repairs with our contractors. They are as follows:

Emergency – usually within 24 hours
Urgent – usually within 3 days
Routine – usually within 21 days
Planned maintenance – on a regular cycle, usually 6 years

We provide an emergency service outside normal working hours. If you call our emergency service and you are responsible for the work, but cannot arrange your own contractor, we will do the work if you agree to pay the costs at that time directly to the contractor.

Aerial and entry-phone

Where there are communal television receptors and/or a door entry system in place, the servicing costs will be included. On some sites, there is also CCTV in place. The running costs will be included here.

Management charge

We incur costs in meeting our obligations in supplying services to you. The costs we incur relate to some or all of the following:

• Compliance with service charge regulations and good practice guides
• Negotiating and monitoring service contract
• Accounting
• IT systems
• Reserve fund management
• Arrears collection
• Debt counselling
• Facilities for repair reporting
• General enquiries from leaseholders
• Anti social behaviour management
• Consulting on proposals
• Stock condition surveys
• Publications