Service charge

Buildings Insurance
This covers the cost of insuring the building (where this applies under your lease). We insure it on behalf of leaseholders against things like fire or flood. Leaseholders and shared owners are recharged for their share of this cost.

Boiler Servicing
For Shared Ownership homes, this covers the annual service of the boiler inside your property. A qualified engineer completes the service and routine safety checks, and we handle the administration and records. This helps keep your boiler safe, efficient, and less likely to break down.

Communal Electricity
This is the cost of electricity used in shared areas, for example lighting, lifts, communal boilers, air source heat pumps or water pumps. Charges are based on the bill from the energy provider.

Communal Gas
This covers the fuel used in communal areas, such as hot water for shared bathrooms, laundry rooms or kitchens in sheltered schemes.

Communal Water
This is the cost of water used in shared facilities such as communal bathrooms, kitchens or laundry rooms in sheltered schemes.

Sewage
This applies if your home is not connected to the main sewer system. It covers the servicing, maintenance and any repairs needed to the private waste water or sewerage system that serves your property.

Grounds Maintenance
This is the cost of looking after the shared outdoor areas around your home. It includes grass cutting, maintaining flowerbeds and trees, and other estate grounds work. This may be carried out by our Grounds Maintenance team or external contractors.

Intensive Housing Management (IHM)
IHM is an enhanced level of housing management for tenants who need extra support to manage their tenancy and day‑to‑day living in supported or temporary accommodation. It goes beyond standard housing management and includes more frequent, hands‑on support tailored to residents who may be more vulnerable. This charge covers the additional cost of providing that support.

Television Aerials
This covers the cost of renting, maintaining and servicing a communal TV aerial where one is provided for the block.

Communal Window Cleaning
This covers the cleaning of communal windows in the block. It doesn’t include the windows in your own home.

Communal Cleaning
This is the cost of cleaning shared areas such as hallways, staircases and internal pathways. It may also include a contribution towards cleaning equipment and materials.

Fire Protection
This covers the servicing and maintenance of fire safety systems such as emergency lighting, alarms, sprinklers and automatic opening vents. We have a legal duty to keep our buildings safe, and we follow a risk‑based approach to make sure inspections and servicing meet regulations and wider safety guidance.

Managing Agent Services
In some areas, Shropshire Council doesn’t own the freehold and a managing agent provides services on behalf of the freeholder. The costs charged to the Council by the managing agent are recharged to you in line with your lease or tenancy agreement.

Laundry Service
This covers the servicing and repair (or replacement, if needed) of shared washing and drying equipment provided for residents.

Aids & Adaptations
This covers the servicing and safety checks of any adaptation equipment installed in your home, such as stairlifts, ceiling track hoists, lifts or wash/dry toilets. It includes routine servicing and any required LOLER inspections to make sure your equipment stays safe, compliant and working properly.

Administration Fees
A 15% administration fee is added to service charges. This helps cover the cost of arranging and managing each service. For example, the admin charge for cleaning contributes to the time spent setting up contracts, monitoring the quality of work and processing invoices.