We have a variety of service charges that can be included in your rent payment.  Some of these charges are for the property and others for a service you have requested.  You may be entitled to Housing Benefit or Supporting People Subsidy to help pay for these services.

Wardens LA: This is the landlord’s element for the building and running costs in sheltered accommodation. You can claim Housing Benefit to help pay for this charge.

Wardens SP: This is the Supporting People element for care provision. This charge may be eligible for Supporting People Subsidy.

Community Care Alarm Service: A variety of charges are applied which depend on the level of service you request. All the charges may be eligible for Supporting People Subsidy. 
Concierge/Security Porterage: This charge is mainly used for multi-storey flats and can be included in a claim for Housing Benefit.

Resident Concierge: This caretaking charge is mainly used in mid-rise blocks and a few multi-storey flats, and is eligible for Housing Benefit.

TV aerials: This charge is applied to all types of flats and is eligible for housing benefit.

Security alarm maintenance: If a property has a security alarm fitted by Neighbourhood Services, this charge covers an annual service.

Furniture Service: A variety of furniture packs are available from Furniture Services and the necessary charge is applied to your rent account. If you are entitled to Housing Benefit, this charge will be included in your claim.

Heating charges: These charges are made when heating is supplied by a communal system. There are two types of heating charges, fixed and metered.  The charges are made up of three elements.

Fixed

• Infrastructure - The charge for the staff employed in the operation and day to day running of the system and boiler (the District and Group Repairs and Servicing Team).
• Energy - The charge for the amount of energy used. The cost of this will be determined by the floor area of the property. There are 7 price bands from 30 to 90 square metres.
• Communal - The contribution towards the cost of heating communal areas.  Not all properties are liable for this charge.

Metered

• Infrastructure - As fixed but also includes the cost of increased levels of administration, the cost of the meter reads and a contribution to the investment required for the meter installation.
• Energy - The estimated cost of the energy used.  This charge is reconciled against the actual meter readings every year and reassessed accordingly.
• Communal - The contribution towards the cost of heating communal areas.  Not all properties are liable for this charge.

If applicable, housing benefit can be claimed for the Infrastructure and Communal elements.