All flats require maintenance, repairs, improvements and such like from time to time.  These have to be paid for and this achieved by making a charge upon each flat owner called a service charge.  Flat owners often want the highest-quality maintenance at the lowest cost possible, and achieving this delicate balance is not always easy.  As a result, service charges have probably become the most frequent and contentious source of dispute between flat owners, building owners and managing agents.

This section is full of articles where you can discover what a service charge is, when and how it can be collected, what it can be used for, in what circumstances it can be challenged as well as lots of further information about the law of service charges. If you have more questions, require further clarification, or want to suggest an article don’t forget to contact us, comment on an article or leave a comment in our forum.

Service Charges - Getting it wrong

Shaun Jardine outlines 12 common problems that occur in service charge collection.

How to challenge your service charge.

David Sillitoe provides a step by step guide.

Why provision should be made for Pest Control in your Service Charge budget.

David Channon discusses the benefits of being prepared.

What happens when the lift stops?

David Masters gives the answer.

How to manage service charge debt.

Neil Shearing has zero tolerance for late payment in a recession.

Service Charge Disputes - A Building Surveyors view

John Byers provides a Building Surveyors View.

What are you paying for?

Eyvind Andresen explains your rights to service charge information.

Residential Service Charges Disputes

Simon Painter and Jacinta Conway explain three common service charge terms.

Why service charges matter

Philip Rainey introduces this special supplement to News on the Block.

Are your Service Charges Safe?

Millions of pounds held on deposit as service charge monies could become the latest victim of the economic downturn.Thousands of anxious flat owners around the country are trying to clarify if their money is at risk. It is not clear if service charge monies will be protected if the bank in which funds are deposited ceases to trade.

   Our Latest Issue:

Read Now                 Register 

    Editor's Choice:

How Far Eastern Quality Beat the Credit Crunch

If you're going to fall victim to the recent credit crunch, you might as well do it in style. Fallout from the financial downturn was felt across London's Canary Wharf district, but nowhere was it more obvious than at Ballymore's flagship residential development, Pan Peninsula.

The Common Wasp: Friend or Foe?

For many people, the summertime means enjoying relaxing picnics in the sun. There is one particular insect associated with this season however, which evokes fear, distress and annoyance in many picnic goers: the common wasp. Despite being a pest species, many people don't realise how interesting and complex these social insects are. So should we treat wasps with fear or admiration?

Tax for flats

The recent hike in capital gains tax to 28% by the new coalition Government has been met with caution by the property industry, as it will affect many who have invested in flats.

IFAS Prefer Commercial to Residential property

More financial advisers think their clients should consider commercial property as an investment compared with residential property, according to the latest survey of Independent Financial advisers (IFas) by rEITa.

Flats Rise - slowly

The latest Government house building data shows that the number of starts rose in the first three months of this year to the best level since the second quarter of 2008. Despite this, starts are currently only running at around 50% of the level achieved at the high water mark of the previous cycle.

Leaseholders group won't be left in the cold

The Federation of Private Residents Associations has called for a change to the Landlord and Tenant Act that would allow for ‘reasonable' insulation to be carried out to blocks of flats as part of the service charge.

Mainstay acquires Market Focus

Mainstay group , the national property management and facilities company, has purchased Market Focus Asset Management (MFAM) based in London. MFAM specialise in the management of mixed use, residential and commercial property.

Managing to Win

Over 50 property managers celebrated together in London as England beat Slovenia in the FIFa world Cup 2010. The event was jointly hosted by News on the Block and Sky Homes.

RMG wins £400k of Business in North

RMG property management has successfully generated over £400k worth of business from the north of England.  Justin Herbert, RMG's Operations Director for the North, said: "Customers recognise the benefi t of regular site visits, full transparency and accessibility to Property Managers, quarterly meetings and site audits, as well as the value for money and customer service provided by RMG."

New Home, New Leader for Stonedale

Stonedale, the specialist London based property management company has appointed Andrew Lyle as its new Head of Operations. Andrew boasts a career that spans over 20 years in property management, having worked for a number of high profi le managing agents in London. In the 18 months since joining the Stonedale team as a Senior Property Manager, he has managed developments in Docklands, Limehouse and Clerkenwell.