New build estate service charges

[helpmefindahouse]

Does anyone here live on a new build estate and have to pay a service/maintenance charge for things like grass cutting etc? Found a new build we love, but a bit nervous about the fees increasing a lot over the years. Any experiences?

I'd never agree to buy a new build with these charges unless there are some watertight terms defining /limiting what any future increases can be.

Completely normal for new build.

We pay £45 a quarter. We've been in our house 10 years and its gone up from about £35 per quarter in that time.

I know someone who used to work in one of these property management companies. The owners were rich and lived in a bigger & better house than any found on the developments!
Do you get a reduction in your council tax if the council haven't adopted the roads?

Yep, I've been on a small new estate for about 9yrs. I pay about £300 per year for grounds maintenance. I'm in West Sussex

We do. I'm on the board of directors of the management company so can try and have a say. Ours was estimated 6 years ago to be £178 per year. I think this year it was £192 so hasn't gone up too much. It's annoying as half of our fees are for the company who organises the grass cutting, accounts etc but we can't avoid it.

We just saw a house yesterday with a £2k per year service charge. I dread to think of it increase so walked away..

I should have said in my earlier post, read the contracts. We're protected from huge increases and have protections like taking over the management ourselves etc...... if you don't have these assurances in the contracts, don't buy.

Ours is about £135 per annum. We have a lot of green areas, play parks, football pitches, a lake and formal green space gardens. Sometimes there’s a rebate.

do not go there. i have the problem that the other freeholders do not wish to spend money on the development - so grass is left for months - section 20 not served for gate repairs - for 10 years the whole estate has looked a mess - it is all about money - 2 directors manage it if you can call it that - fences falling down - weeds everywhere - the service charge is so low that there is no money to do anything properly. no outside lights for 3 years - now we have a few solar lights which are useless. ;lights have fallen over and exposed wires are visible
if you want a property that is nice and you would want to re-sell or rent in the future do not bother with this arrangement - it might work in some places but not all.