Paying your rent, service charges and other costs
This page explains what you pay as a shared owner, what those charges cover, and what to do if you have questions or are struggling to pay.
As a shared owner, your payments are set out in your lease.
What do I pay as a shared owner?
Most shared owners pay some or all of the following:
Rent
- Rent is charged on the share of the home owned by whg
- Rent is paid monthly
- Rent increases are set out in your lease and reviewed annually
Service charges
- Service charges cover the cost of managing and maintaining shared areas and services
- What you pay depends on your home and what services are provided
Ground rent (if applicable)
- Some leases include ground rent
- This will be clearly stated in your lease
What do service charges cover?
Service charges pay for services that benefit your home or building.
Depending on where you live, this may include:
- cleaning communal areas
- grounds maintenance
- lifts
- fire safety systems
- building insurance
- external and structural repairs
- managing agent and administration costs
If you live in a flat, service charges usually cover communal and external repairs arranged by whg
How are service charges worked out?
Service charges can be:
Fixed
- the amount stays the same
- you pay the agreed charge set out in your lease
Variable
- based on the actual cost of services
- reviewed annually
If your charge is variable, we’ll send you:
- an annual budget
- a yearly statement showing what was spent
If there’s a difference between what was budgeted and what was spent, this may result in:
- an additional charge, or
- a credit on your account
Annual reviews and statements
Each year we review rent and service charges, with new changes taking effect in April. We’ll write to you in February to explain:
- any changes to your rent
- any changes to your service charge
- what the charges cover
If anything isn’t clear, contact us and we’ll explain it.
Major works and larger costs
Sometimes major works are needed, such as:
- roof replacement
- lift renewal
- major structural repairs
When this happens:
- we will follow the legal consultation process
- we will explain the proposed work and estimated costs
- you’ll have time to ask questions or comment
Where costs are shared, they are apportioned in line with your lease
How to pay
You can pay your rent and service charges by:
- direct debit
- online through your whg account
Using a direct debit is the easiest way to make sure payments are made on time.
If you’re struggling to pay
If you’re worried about paying your rent or service charges:
- contact us as early as possible
- we can explain your account and charges
- we can discuss payment options and support
If you’re experiencing financial difficulty, we can also signpost you to organisations that may be able to help.
