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Your service charges explained
Find out about service charges like cleaning, lighting and heating so you know what you’re paying for.
What are service charges?
Service charges help pay for shared services in your building and nearby areas, like cleaning, lighting, or gardening.
Sometimes, these charges are included in your total rent along with the cost of your home.
Each year, we’ll send you a letter at least four weeks before April to explain your rent and service charges for the upcoming year.
Services that you may be charged for
| Charge type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Anglian Water | We will no longer be collecting water charges on behalf of Anglian Water after 29 March 2026. Find out about switching |
| Basic Rent | Weekly rent based on property value, local income, and size. |
| Communal Water Charges | Water used in shared areas or for district supply. |
| Digital Aerial Charge | Cost for shared TV aerial and its maintenance. |
| District Heating Charge | Heating cost based on property size (number of bedrooms). Prices have increased due to rising energy costs. Find out why |
| District Heating Standing Charge | Fixed cost for shared heating system utilities. |
| Insurance | Optional contents insurance for tenants with no excess fee. |
| Laundry Facilities | Access to shared laundry machines. |
| Mobile Premises Manager | Caretaking services for communal areas, including new sites from April 2024. |
| Open Spaces | Maintenance of green areas in new developments. |
| Passivhaus/Eco Plus Charge | Extra 5% on rent for energy-efficient homes that help lower utility bills. |
| Residential Premises Manager | Caretaking services for shared residential areas. |
| Sheltered Alarm | 24/7 emergency support via alarm system in sheltered housing. |
| Sheltered Service Charge | Covers upkeep of communal areas in sheltered housing (e.g., cleaning, safety checks). |
| Window Cleaning | Communal windows cleaned twice a year. |
Got a text about your tenancy? If you’ve received a text message that seems to be from Norwich City Council about your tenancy, please check it by visiting our text messages about your tenancy page.
Tell Universal Credit about your new rent
You need to update your rent and service charge details in your Universal Credit online journal.
What to do:
- go to GOV.UK and sign in to your Universal Credit account
- update the following details using the information in your rent notification letter:
- your weekly rent
- your total eligible charges
- your total other (ineligible) charges
Important - only update your journal after 7 April 2025. Updating it before this date may affect your payments.
Direct debit information
- You’ll get a separate letter showing all your payments for the next financial year.
- If you already have a direct debit set up to pay off arrears, it will continue until the final payment is made.
- If you still owe money on 7 April 2025, and it’s not part of a payment plan, we’ll update your instalments to cover the outstanding amount.
- We’ll send you a letter if anything changes.
