Your rent and service charges
All tenants pay rent to the council, and depending on the home you live in, you may also pay service charges. It’s important that you understand the differences between all the charges you need to pay to the council. Your rent is what you pay the council to live in your property. The rent we collect allows us to provide the home you live in, general repairs, and the management of your tenancy.
Service charges cover the cost of any service that is provided to communal areas of the building and/or estate where you live. Items covered as part of a service charge can include (but are not limited to):
- Gardening
- Cleaning
- Caretaking
- Utilities to communal areas
Also, depending on the building you live in, as part of your tenancy you may pay a charge for the use of other services which are for the direct benefit of your home. These services aren’t the same as other service charges and can include (but are not limited to):
- Heating
- Electricity
- Water
We are currently working on a project to make it clearer which services each tenant receives, and how much you pay for each individual service. This entails more accurate apportioning out or 'de-pooling' of service charges. As the project progresses you will be sent more information to explain what the changes will mean for you.
If you have any questions about the project or any of the information above, please contact us at housing.service@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk or on 01303 853300.