service charge

"The biggest issue is all the heating costs that go into our service charges are heating the communal hallways. The building is cooking from the inside."

They're often more accessible but come with complexities, like service charges and limited resale flexibility.

Leaseholders must pay an annual service charge to a managing agent or the freeholder for things such as building insurance and maintenance of communal areas.

Kasia said she would like more control over her service charges but the government's commonhold proposals were for new builds, so would not help her in her current situation.

"I pay full rent, just under £800 a month, of which a proportion of that is for service charges, and a part of that is to cover our lift."