The Service Charge
As part of their planning consents both Channels and Beaulieu are required to manage their open space through a Residents Service Charge. This is common for large developments. The Service Charge year runs from 1st July to 30th June each year and the service charge is collected in two halves – In May for the July to December half and in November for the January to June half.
At Channels the open space has been and is being delivered by the developers at no cost to the residents. Open Space comes in two parts:
Local Open Space - Managed by each Developer’s Resident Management Company
Site Wide Open Space - Managed by the Site Wide Management Company
The legal obligation to pay the Service Charge is contained in the Deeds of every home at Channels and there are serious consequences for non payment. This Service Charge system was explained by all the Developers at the time that homes were sold and would have been explained by the solicitors handling the purchase from the developer and subsequently on any resale.
Local Open Space
Local Open Space is relatively small areas of Open Space within a developers Lot, and Site Wide Open Space is the larger elements and elements which fall outside of the developer Lots. The plans under the heading “what is the estate” show the developer lots and the Site Wide areas.
Site Wide Open Space
The Site Wide Service Cost was budgeted in 2014 at around £135 per home per year (£160 in 2020 allowing for inflation) and our ambition is to keep it within that figure.
Collection of the site wide service charge depends upon which area you live in.
Residents in the Bellway parcel pay their Site Wide Service Charge alongside the Local Service Charge to their management company. Other residents pay the Site Wide Service Charge directly to the site wide management company.
The Service Charge Budget for each future year will be circulated for discussion prior to service charge statements being issued.
The budget covers both the regular site wide maintenance work according to the schedule shown here but also one off jobs and the accounting and management work to keep the estate looking at its best.