Why do I pay a service charge?
Your service charge is your share of the costs of maintaining the communal areas of your building, e.g. cleaning, ground maintenance, lift maintenance, etc. Your lease will provide details of the items covered by the service charge and how they are apportioned between the flats.

How is the service charge calculated?
Hillcrest Estate Management prepares a budget for your property each year, based on actual expenditure for the previous years and this will be approved by representatives of your Management Company or Residents Association. This is then charged out to each individual owner based on the apportionment stated in your lease.

How do I know what my service charge is spent on?
At the end of each financial year, statements are prepared by an independent accountant showing income and expenditure for your property. The statements are circulated to all leaseholders. Owners can also request to see financial information throughout the year and we can provide this easily by email or post.

What happens if I cannot afford to pay my service charge?
Please contact your Account Manager to discuss payment options as soon as possible. Here at Hillcrest we understand that owners may go through difficult times and we will do our best to set up a payment plan with you.

What should I do if I want to discuss a maintenance problem?
Initially, please contact Amy Sheppard, who is the Estate Co-ordinator and she will contact the appropriate contractor. This can be done by phone on 0117 973 0600 or by email to maintenance@hillcrestestates.co.uk

How does Hillcrest Estate Management charge for their services?
We take our fees on a quarterly basis and these costs will have been accounted for in your properties annual service charge budget. A portion of the overall cost you pay will be to cover the cost of Hillcrest managing the property.

Why do I pay an insurance premium?
Leases usually dictate that the building be insured as a whole and the cost included in your annual service charges. This therefore ensures all parts of the property are covered. Contents of the individual flats should be insured by the flat owner.

Can I make alterations to my property?
Your lease will give details of your specific obligations. It is usual that the Landlord’s consent will be required for most alterations and that any structural alteration will be prohibited. Please contact us for further information.

Can I have a satellite dish?
Most leases will not allow individuals to erect aerials. Here at Hillcrest we are looking into new ways to allow access to new media including looking at communal dishes where possible. Please contact us for further information.

Do you charge for registering a change of tenancy?
We do not charge Landlords or the management company any fees for a change of tenancy. This is a practice undertaken by some agents purely as a money making exercise, which we feel is absolutely unnecessary.