Leaseholders Service Charge

Each year leaseholders receive a 'Leasehold Annual Statement' accompanied by an explanation of the charges for each service.

In addition, new legislation came into force in October 2007 which requires Poole Housing Partnership to send a summary of Rights and Obligations with each demand for payment. 

We aim to provide accurate information to leaseholders. However, if you do have an enquiry please contact us in writing . We aim to respond to the enquiry in writing within 10 working days of receiving it.

What are Service Charges?

Each year the leaseholder will be sent a Leasehold Annual Statement, which sets out the service charge for day to day services. These include where applicable:

• Cost of grounds maintenance
• Cost of building insurance
• Cost of caretaking/cleaning
• Cost of lighting
• Cost of heating
• Cost of reactive maintenance
• Management charges

Please note that these do vary from year to year, reflecting the cost of services leaseholders actually receive.

On request, we can provide a detailed breakdown of each service, stating how we have calculated the service costs and any changes in costs of services.

How is the charge identified?

A repair under the service charge would have been carried out in the common parts of the building e.g. the roof, stairwell or lighting in the common areas. The repair costs are calculated from our response contractor's schedule of rates and the Leaseholders pay a proportionate share of the bill according to the terms of the Lease.

The total bill is apportioned and paid through your reactive maintenance charge. A  contracts administration charge is added, in line with the terms of the Lease.

How can I pay my Service Charges?

• Direct Debit
• Debit card
• Credit card
• Internet
• Cash at the Civic Offices
• Cheque at the Civic Offices
• Post Office
• Payzone
• PayPoint
• Via the Poole Housing Partnership website.

Please DO NOT send cash by post.  If paying by cheque please ensure the cheque is crossed  "Account Payee", and that you have enclosed your completed paying-in slip.

If you are experiencing difficulties paying your service charges or would like further information on your payment options, please contact the Income Team, see the contact details on the right of this page.  We are here to help.

The Records and Accounts Charge covers the following:-

• Regular consultation meetings
• Regular information through the "At Home"  newsletter
• Liaison with Resident's Associations through our Resident Involvement Officer
• Dealing with enquiries from Leaseholders
• Carrying out statutory consultation under The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
• Home visits to Lessees on request
• Updating residents' records
• Advising Lessees as to their rights and responsibilities under the Terms of the Lease
• Calculating and presenting Service Charges
• Issuing Leasehold Annual Statements
• Providing information to Auditors
• Liaising with Finance Officers to collate service charges
• Negotiating with Lessees on payment options
• Dealing with applications to improve and alter dwellings
• Enforcing lease conditions
• Collating of costs for individual services
• Advising Poole Housing Partnership of budgets
• Auditing accounts
• Invoicing Lessees
• Collecting service charges
• Crediting accounts
• Collecting service charge arrears

Contract Administration Charge

The Contract Administration charge is 15% of the cost of the services provided and covers the following areas:

• Planning and managing the service contracts
• Monitoring contractors' performance
• Providing specifications for contracts
• Employing staff to order repairs and to inspect before and after completion of the repair