Changes to Merton service charge for block caretaking
Important update on your caretaking service charges
We understand that the service charge bills for 2023/24 (sent out in September 2024) have caused concern amongst residents, particularly the charges relating to caretaking costs.
To make sure these caretaking charges are accurate and we’re being transparent, we carried out a review of them, specific to your estate and block. Thank you for your patience as we worked through this important process.
Caretaking charge estimates
The 2023/24 caretaking charges were estimated based on data from 2021/22. Unfortunately, these estimates didn’t fully account for rising costs since April 2022, which led to underestimations for some estates and blocks. We’ve now updated our process to ensure future estimates are based on accurate, up-to-date information.
Actual caretaking charges 2023/24
The caretaking charge for 2023/24 cover both regular and one-off cleaning, and materials needed to maintain cleanliness and safety in communal areas. Clarion directly employs the estate services team responsible for delivering this service. The costs are based on staff salaries, inflation, and increases in material costs. The charges are allocated based on the recorded time spent on each estate. However, as this is a relatively new system, some time and cost allocations were incorrect, causing charges to vary— some increased, some decreased, and some stayed the same.
Review of charges
From this we found that in some instances, time and costs were not allocated accurately. We also found that the estimates for 2023/24 were based on historical data and did not factor in the costs of running the service since 2022. Altogether, this led to incorrect charges that have resulted in some increases, decreases, and some charges remaining the same.
If you have any questions about the charges or our review, our FAQ below may help or send an enquiry via our form below.