Social Housng service charge increase

Mory

I have just recieved my new rent and estimated service charges. The rent increase seems proportional. The service charge is absurd. It has gone from £34.19 per calander month to £161.67!!! The biggest charge comes under Managing agent costs of £18.51 a week. I live in a small 1 bed flat with no garden. The idea of a £161 service charge for a small social property is just ridiculous. And unaffordable.

I just wondered if anyone had successfully challanged a big social housing provider on these charges. I'm guessing I have no chance but it would be interesting to hear other peoples experiences or advice. I don't really know how to go about it but will be contacting CAB tomorrow. I am also going to flag it to my MP - though he's about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Brie

I have no direct experience but Shelter has a template letter for challenging a service charge increase.

Service charges for council and housing association tenants - Shelter England

fullyrendered

Start by asking your landlord. No need to jump onto the CAB, MP or Shelter until you've given them a chance to explain it.

Can you post the old and new breakdown of charges here?

Have you queried what the managing agent fee covers?

Mory

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998853#Comment_81998853

Thank you 🙂

Mory

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81999041#Comment_81999041

Yes. That is my plan. I will be asking for a full breakdown of the service charge and what the management agent fee is actually for. I will conact CAB for general advice but don't plan to contact my MP until further down the line.

I will have to look out last years charges breakdown but can post them here. The new charges all seem fairly ok except for this management agent fee - £18 odd pounds a week. Over £900 a year for me alone - there are 6 flats in this block and I don't know how many on the estate so it's begs the question what the hell is it for. It adds up to 1000's out of no where.

Looking online though it seems to be an issue with the HA since it merged with another and they have been looked at by the housing ombandsman for sky high rates of maladministartaion (81% in 2023 and 74% in 2025). So I can't say I trust them to much to follow a truthful process.

Mory

A letter from 26th Sept 2025 states Notice under section 20B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 - Based on the current spend for the period, the maximum amount of costs for your estate/block during this period is £96,000.00.

Service charge Jul 25 to Jul 26

Audit fee: £0.32

Cleaning £1.32

Communal utilities £0.34

Cost of provision (tenants only) £0.54

Estate servicing £1.50

Health and Safety £1.32

Management fee : 1.13

Management agent cost £1.47

Total per week £7.89 (£410.28 per year)

Service Charge estimated July 26 to Jul 27

Certfication fee £0.33

Bulk refuse (estate) £0.12

Cleaning service (in house) £5.95

Communal window cleaning £0.46

Fire door inspections £0.07

Fire system repairs £2.81

Fire system servicing £2.56

Fire risk assesments £0.96

Management agent costs £18.51

Door entry £0.96

Management fee £1.13

Cost of provision £0.57

FRA actions passive works £2.88

Total £37.31 per week (£1940.12 a year)

I have asked for a proper breakdown including of the 'management agent costs' but am just being told they will be in touch by mid Aug. There essentialy just making social housing incresingly unaffordable for people.