How do I pay my charges?
We will contact you to set up a direct debit for your monthly payment of rent and service charges.
What does my service charge cover?
Your annual service charge covers the following:
- emergency, urgent and one-off non-urgent repairs (not including repairs to the interior of your home)
- servicing of equipment in communal areas and preventative works
- services shared by your flat and others in the block, eg grounds maintenance, cleaning of communal areas, electricity to communal areas and buildings insurance
- third party management charges (where applicable)
When do I pay my service charge?
Leaseholders receive their service charge invoice each July.
If you bought your flat part-way through the service charge period, your solicitor will have agreed how much of the charge you’re liable to pay for the remainder of the year. Please speak to your solicitor if you’re unsure what arrangements have been agreed.
How can I pay my charges?
By direct debit
By debit or credit card over the phone
By bank transfer
By cheque payable to Soha Housing Limited
By cash, cheque or debit card at our cash office in Royal Scot House
When making a payment please quote your account number, which you’ll find on your service charge invoice.
I can’t afford to pay my service charge – what should I do?
Please contact the Homeownership team immediately if you’re having trouble making your payment – we’ll discuss your situation and work out a payment plan.
If you’re having financial difficulties, contact the Money Advice Service for free and impartial money advice.
Your rent and service charge statement.
We send you one statement a year in April. The statement shows your closing balance as at 31 March. It also shows the current rent and service charges for your property and a short summary of the balance of your rent account throughout the year. If you need a rent statement at any other time of year please request one through our app, email us or call us on 0800 014 15 45 (Freephone).
If you’re a Soha leaseholder, you have the right to live in your home for the term of the lease, which can be up to 125 years. Soha remains the freeholder of the land and building, but you have the right to sell your home at any time.
What information does my lease contain?
Your lease sets out the rights and responsibilities of the landlord and leaseholder. The main provisions are:
- a description of the property, amount of ground rent payable, the date and length of the lease
- Soha’s obligations
- your obligations
- the rights granted to you, the leaseholder, and rights retained by Soha
- service charge arrangements (eg how the charges are worked out and when they are payable)
If you need advice about your lease or service charges, please speak to your solicitor, Citizens Advice or the Leaseholder Advisory Service.