Some people have recently received a letter from us about how their service charge works.
If you have not received a letter, this does not apply to you, and you do not need to do anything. This is because the proposed change does not currently apply to your tenancy agreement.
The letter has only been sent to people with a secure tenancy.
A secure tenancy is a specific type of tenancy agreement.
If this applies to you, you will have received a letter directly from us.
The letter is Stage 1 of a formal consultation. It is about a possible future change to how service charges are worked out.
At this stage:
- Your service charges are not changing
- No decision has been made
- We are only asking for feedback
We are asking for views on a proposal to move from:
- a fixed service charge (the same amount throughout the year, even if service costs change, rising with inflation), to
- a variable service charge (based on the real cost of services like cleaning, gardening and lighting)
If you received a letter and want to share your views, you have 40 days from the date of the letter to contact us.
You can send your comments by:
- Email: yourservicesfeedback@forhousing.co.uk
- Post: FAO Andrea Spamer, ForHousing, 52 Regent Street, Eccles, M30 0BP
- Phone: 0300 123 5522
If you did not receive a letter, you do not need to do anything. This is because the proposed change does not currently apply to your tenancy agreement.
We know service charges can feel complicated. We’ve put together some FAQs to help.
1
What is a fixed service charge?
A fixed service charge stays the same for the full year. It does not change based on what services actually cost. Fixed charges increase each year in line with government guidance on inflation, even if the real cost of services goes down.
2
What is a variable service charge?
A variable service charge goes up or down depending on the real cost of the services you receive. This includes things like shared cleaning, gardening and lighting. If costs fall, your charge falls. If costs rise, your charge will rise too.
3
What will the difference in my charges be if I move from fixed to variable?
Your charge is worked out each year using the actual cost of the services in your building. Once we have the yearly figures, we will send you a clear breakdown.
4
Why are you making these changes?
A variable charge is fairer and more accurate because the charge is based on the real cost of providing services.
5
Will I be told before anything changes?
Yes. You will always receive a clear explanation of your service charge each year and be told when any changes will start and we will always ask for your views before we enter into any new contracts with suppliers.
6
I am worried about money. Can you help?
Yes. We can help with budgeting, benefit checks and other support If you need support, please give us a call on 0300 123 5522 or email yourservicesfeedback@forhousing.co.uk.
7
Why didn’t I receive this letter?
You did not receive a letter because this proposed change does not currently apply to your tenancy agreement. If the change does not apply to you, you do not need to do anything.
8
What happens after I share my views on the proposed change?
After the notice period ends, we will review all feedback we receive.
We will then write to let you know:
– what decision has been made
– what happens next
– and when any future changes would start, if the proposal goes ahead
No changes will be made without further communication.
9
What if I don’t want to change to a variable service charge?
This is why we are asking for your views, so we can understand how you feel about this proposed change.
10
Does a variable service charge change during the year?
No. The amount you pay each month stays the same for the whole year. The charge is reviewed each year and adjusted based on the actual cost of services.
11
Do I need to sign anything?
No. This stage is about listening to your views. If the proposal goes ahead in the future, we will explain what this means before any changes are made.
12
Will this affect my rent?
No. This proposal only relates to how service charges are worked out. It does not affect your rent.
