Service charges HB Help

Digital_2012

Hi guys,

I need some advice i recently moved to a  black of flats which is a leashold property, the landlord added service charges in my tenancy agreement.

Upon asking, the landlord told me that there are chargres for gardening cleaning corridors bin service and some other maintenance.

Some one told me that we can claim service charges from council. I rang Sheffield council and the lady told me there is no such a thing they pay as service charges so i have to pay the service charges by myself.

I am confused Google search shows that i can claim some service charges but council tells me different story.

DE_612183

I don't think you claim them from the council - your housing benefit may be increased to pay them - you need to speak to whoever your HB contact is. ( I Think ).

poppy12345

Service charges can be paid as part of housing benefit, which is from your local Authority. There are some charges that can't be claimed for. If you're of working age and you don't currently claim housing benefit then you won't be able to start a new claim unless it's either temporary or support housing. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Eligible-rent-for-Housing-Benefit-and-service-charges

You would need to claim Universal Credit for help with any rent/service charges. Whether there's any entitlement will depend on your circumstances.

Digital_2012

Hi guys thanks for your reply yes i have checked and the charges i can claim are listed for eligibility. The cleaning services clean corridors weekly window cleaner monthly bin service weekly gardening fortnightly and there is a CCTV system in place also. 

My council is Sheffield city council and lady from council giving me totally different advice 

Also i clam IR esa and pip

Robbie64

Digital_2012 said:

Hi guys thanks for your reply yes i have checked and the charges i can claim are listed for eligibility. The cleaning services clean corridors weekly window cleaner monthly bin service weekly gardening fortnightly and there is a CCTV system in place also. 

My council is Sheffield city council and lady from council giving me totally different advice 

Also i clam IR esa and pip

Are you receiving Housing Benefit as well as IR-ESA?

Lifematters

Who are you getting help with your rent from, the councils housing benefit department or Universal Credit? Whoever it is, send them your tenancy agreement showing rent and services charges and they will decide what is eligible.

Robbie64

Lifematters said:

Who are you getting help with your rent from, the councils housing benefit department or Universal Credit? Whoever it is, send them your tenancy agreement showing rent and services charges and they will decide what is eligible.

It could only be the local authority HB department as the poster is in receipt of income related ESA.

Digital_2012

I am getting housing benefits and IR ESA i am not getting UC. The Council have my new tenancy agreement which shows service chargers included but still they didn't award service charges expenses. I believe Sheffield city council dealing these kind of matters. I spoke to Sheffield City council housing benefit department the lady said to me that they don't pay service charges and i have to pay service charges to landlord by myself i even asked if i can contact DWP for help she said there is no such a thing neither council nor DWP would pay

calcotti

There is some basic information on Housing Benefit service charges here
https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/benefits/housing_benefit/service_charges_covered_by_housing_benefit

Service charges, except daily living expenses such as fuel, water and meals, are covered by housing benefit if their payment is a condition of occupying the home.
Eligible service charges
Service charges which are eligible for housing benefit include:[6]
 - water charges for communal areas
 - charges for certain communal facilities, including TV aerial and relay, and communal laundry facilities
 - service charges relating to the cleaning and maintenance of, and fuel supplied to communal areas, ie: areas of common access, such as halls and stairwells in blocks of flats

Similarly https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Eligible-rent-for-Housing-Benefit-and-service-charges

Eligible rent for Housing Benefit and service charges

Eligible rent is the amount of rent that you pay if you are a Council or social housing tenant less ineligible service charges. 

Service charges may be included as part of your eligible rent if:

• you have to pay them to occupy your home, and
• they are related to the provision of adequate accommodation, and
• the council accepts that the service charges are not excessive.

Service charges you cannot claim for

Examples of charges that cannot be included in your eligible rent are charges for:

• fuel and water charges (unless they relate to a communal area)
• personal laundry (but not a service charge for the use of laundry facilities)
• cleaning of rooms and windows (other than communal areas) unless neither you nor any member of your household can do it
• transport
• meals or groceries (housing benefit uses set figures as a meal deduction)
• television rental and license fee (but the cost of television and radio relay may be allowed)
• leisure items like recreation facilities (but payments for children’s play areas are allowed)
• personal care and support

Service charges you can claim for

Service charges that you have to pay to occupy your home will be counted as part of your eligible rent if they are related to the provision of adequate accommodation. Examples of service charges that may be included in your eligible rent are:

• cleaning of communal areas. These are defined as areas (other than rooms) with common access (including halls and passageways) and rooms of common use in sheltered accommodation
• connection to a radio or television system (except satellite and cable relay systems) in specified circumstances
• other services such as those provided by caretakers which relate to the provision of adequate accommodation
• children’s play areas

These lists are not exhaustive; other service charges may be included or excluded in your eligible rent.

Digital_2012

calcotti said:

There is some basic information on Housing Benefit service charges here
https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/benefits/housing_benefit/service_charges_covered_by_housing_benefit

Service charges, except daily living expenses such as fuel, water and meals, are covered by housing benefit if their payment is a condition of occupying the home.
Eligible service charges
Service charges which are eligible for housing benefit include:[6]
 - water charges for communal areas
 - charges for certain communal facilities, including TV aerial and relay, and communal laundry facilities
 - service charges relating to the cleaning and maintenance of, and fuel supplied to communal areas, ie: areas of common access, such as halls and stairwells in blocks of flats

Similarly https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Eligible-rent-for-Housing-Benefit-and-service-charges

Eligible rent for Housing Benefit and service charges

Eligible rent is the amount of rent that you pay if you are a Council or social housing tenant less ineligible service charges. 

Service charges may be included as part of your eligible rent if:

• you have to pay them to occupy your home, and
• they are related to the provision of adequate accommodation, and
• the council accepts that the service charges are not excessive.

Service charges you cannot claim for

Examples of charges that cannot be included in your eligible rent are charges for:

• fuel and water charges (unless they relate to a communal area)
• personal laundry (but not a service charge for the use of laundry facilities)
• cleaning of rooms and windows (other than communal areas) unless neither you nor any member of your household can do it
• transport
• meals or groceries (housing benefit uses set figures as a meal deduction)
• television rental and license fee (but the cost of television and radio relay may be allowed)
• leisure items like recreation facilities (but payments for children’s play areas are allowed)
• personal care and support

Service charges you can claim for

Service charges that you have to pay to occupy your home will be counted as part of your eligible rent if they are related to the provision of adequate accommodation. Examples of service charges that may be included in your eligible rent are:

• cleaning of communal areas. These are defined as areas (other than rooms) with common access (including halls and passageways) and rooms of common use in sheltered accommodation
• connection to a radio or television system (except satellite and cable relay systems) in specified circumstances
• other services such as those provided by caretakers which relate to the provision of adequate accommodation
• children’s play areas

These lists are not exhaustive; other service charges may be included or excluded in your eligible rent.

I already have this information and i believe that i am eligible for service charges i can claim but the problem is who to contact and how to apply i already sent my tenancy agreement as proof but council representative says that they dont pay service charges 

Lifematters

Is your rent (plus service charge) higher than your local housing allowance and perhaps they are just paying up to your local housing allowance? 

Have you received a notification letter from the council detailing what rent they are using in their calculation? It should include both eligible and ineligible rent costs.  

You could ask for a reconsideration or appeal if they have given you notification that the service charges are ineligible.