As freeholders of our buildings and estates we're responsible for making sure they're well looked after and maintained.
Leaseholders are usually responsible for paying towards the costs of any service we provide to a building or estate.
Freeholders with a house on one of our estates may also have to pay towards some of the costs.
The charge covers services like grounds maintenance, minor repairs and lifts.
The costs may be shared fairly between:
all the properties in a building or estate
only among those properties that benefit from the services
The council pays the proportion relating to any rent-paying tenants from their rent.
The cost of services to tenants is not subsidised by leaseholders or freeholders who pay the service charge.
You usually also pay for any major works that are needed. These are charged for separately.
Find out how we take care of council buildings and/or estates.