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Some service charges may be included as part of your eligible rent if:
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you have to pay them to occupy your home, and
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the council accepts that the service charges are not excessive, and
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they are related to the provision of adequate accommodation.
Service charges you can claim for
Service charges that you have to pay to occupy your home will be counted as
part of your eligible rent if they are related to the provision of adequate
accommodation. Examples of service charges that may be included in your
eligible rent are:
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children’s play areas
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cleaning of communal areas. These are defined as areas (other than rooms) of
common access (including halls and passageways) and rooms of common use in
sheltered accommodation
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connection to a radio or television system (except satellite and cable relay
systems) in specified circumstances
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other services such as those provided by caretakers which relate to the
provision of adequate accommodation.
This list is not exhaustive; other service charges may be included in your
eligible rent.
Service charges you cannot claim for
Examples of charges that cannot be included in your eligible rent are charges
for:
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meals or groceries
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personal laundry (but not a service charge for the use of laundry facilities)
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cleaning of rooms and windows (other than communal areas) unless neither you
nor any member of your household can do it
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transport
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leisure items like recreation facilities (but payments for children’s play
areas are allowed)
- television rental and license fee (but the cost of television and radio relay may be allowed).
Housing Benefit cannot help with fuel charges for your home. If your rent
includes an amount for fuel, it will not be met by Housing Benefit.
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