Service charges: the Section 20B notice explained

A Section 20B notice is a legal notice that lets you know service charge costs were charged during the year.

We're required to send this notice before the final service charge accounts are completed.

You've received this notice because we're still finalising the service charge accounts for 2025/26.

We're sending the notice while we complete the final accounts.

No, this isn't a bill, a final service charge statement or a request for payment.

You don't need to make a payment because of this notice.

No, you don't need to make a payment, complete a form or contact us just because you've received this notice.

Please keep the notice for your records.

No, the amount shown in the notice isn't your individual service charge.

It relates to the block, estate or service charge area named in the notice and may include costs for many homes and services.

We'll calculate your share once the final accounts are complete.

The amount shown in the notice may include costs for many homes and several shared services.

For example, if the notice shows £100,000, this doesn't mean you owe £100,000.

Your share will be calculated separately in line with your lease or tenancy agreement.

No, we're still finalising the service charge accounts.

The amount shown in the notice isn't the final account.

No, we haven't calculated your share yet.

We'll do this once the final accounts are complete, in line with your lease or tenancy agreement and the services that apply to your home.

Your final statement will compare your share of the final costs with the estimated service charges charged to your account during 2025/26.

This comparison is based on the charges applied to your account, not on the amount you've paid.

You won't be asked to pay the total amount shown in the notice.

Not necessarily.

Your share of the final costs may be higher than, lower than, or the same as the estimated service charges charged to your account.

When we send your final statement, it could show an additional amount to pay, nothing further to pay, or a credit on your account.

We're still finalising the service charge accounts and don't have a confirmed date yet.

We'll send your final service charge statement once this work is complete.

Your final statement will show the final costs for the services that apply to your home, your share of those costs, the estimated service charges charged to your account during 2025/26, and any adjustment resulting from that comparison.

We'll explain how you can access supporting information when we send your final service charge statement.

The figures in this notice aren't the final service charge accounts.

You'll be able to ask us about the costs or how they've been calculated once you've received your final service charge statement.

This notice doesn't affect any rights you may have.

This notice doesn't mean you owe anything now.

If your final service charge statement later shows a balance to pay and you're worried about managing the cost, please get in touch.

We'll talk through your options and any support available to you.

Please contact us if the resident name, property address or account details shown on the notice aren't correct.

If your question isn't covered, please get in touch.