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Communal heating admin and service charges
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"Utilities" is a bit vague but I'm struggling to think of a reasonable interpretation where that includes maintaining the fixtures, rather than merely paying for the stuff supplied.0
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I dont know how many flats share this communal heating but if this was a normal system, so would be one CH per flat, the landlord would have several/many to maintain - that would always be at their cost.
By having one (larger) system that feeds all the flats, the landlord is probably saving money on the maintenance element of the boiler. So, why would he be charging the tennants money for its upkeep? They wouldnt be charged if it was a boiler in each property?0 -
I dont know how many flats share this communal heating but if this was a normal system, so would be one CH per flat, the landlord would have several/many to maintain - that would always be at their cost.
By having one (larger) system that feeds all the flats, the landlord is probably saving money on the maintenance element of the boiler. So, why would he be charging the tennants money for its upkeep? They wouldnt be charged if it was a boiler in each property?
District heating does usually involve having a heat exchange system in the property which is similar to a boiler, and which the landlord will need to maintain.
It would be interesting to know how regular utility standing charges are broken down. You would expect that some of it is for maintaining supply infrastructure and I can't really see how this is any different, it's just that you can see how it is broken down.0 -
3 months of heating and hot water for £118 ... from where I'm sitting that's a great deal!0
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As the system falls under the ownership of the freeholder and is obviously charging the leaseholders these charges it would appear that the landlord is making you pick up the bill. The being responsible for utilities clause is, as you undoubtedly know, is a standard one. It would appear in this case that this is being construed to include the communal heating system.
District heating systems are usually adopted by the energy supplier and maintained by them, not the freeholder. These infrastructure charges are then passed on to the users via the standing charge, as they would in any other normal energy supply.0 -
I rent out a flat with a similar set up.
The heating/ hot water used is measured by some device at the property, though the boiler itself serves the whole development. The tenant pays for usage and the landlord pays the whole of the service charge. Usage is measured and billed, but there isn't a meter to read as such.
Does the rent charged reflect that you are paying the service charge? ie is the rent lower than would otherwise be?I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.0 -
jbainbridge wrote: »3 months of heating and hot water for £118 ... from where I'm sitting that's a great deal!
It is indeed a bargain (even though it's £119
), if it was differently balanced (i.e. higher charge for heating, lower for fixed costs) it would be even better as the heating costs should be a lot lower during the warmer months, but even so I think most of us would be very happy to receive a total bill of less than £500 for the year. 0 -
It is indeed a bargain (even though it's £119), if it was differently balanced (i.e. higher charge for heating, lower for fixed costs) it would be even better as the heating costs should be a lot lower during the warmer months, but even so I think most of us would be very happy to receive a total bill of less than £500 for the year.
In a flat though? I pay £40/month for gas and electricity, so not a great deal from where I'm sitting.0 -
£119 a quarter is slightly less than you're paying so it seems as good a deal as you have.Rosemary7391 wrote: »In a flat though? I pay £40/month for gas and electricity, so not a great deal from where I'm sitting.0
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