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Service charges

As a Westminster City Council leaseholder find information about your service charges and how to pay them.

Service charge support

If you are finding it difficult to pay your service charge then it is important to contact us as soon as possible, our friendly Service Charge Collections Team are here to help.

Contact Details

Book an appointment: www.westminster.gov.uk/book-20-minute-telephone-appointment

Phone: 0800 358 3783 

Email: [email protected]

We can work with you and set up an agreement to clear any arrears by regular instalments. If you are still unable to keep to the agreement, please contact us.

If we write to you about service charge arrears, please ensure you respond quickly or your case may be referred to our solicitors for non-payment of your service charge account.

Hardship fund

We know the cost of living crisis is affecting residents across Westminster. The Westminster Council Local Hardship Fund aims to help residents who are not eligible for other help.  

The fund is currently open for applications from Westminster residents who do not receive any means-tested benefits and have a low income of up to £30,000, or £50,000 if there are children in the household.  

To find out more about the hardship fund visit: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support/hardship-fund

Cost of Living Support Hub

We have a Cost of Living Support hub full of resources that outline how we can support you through the rising cost of living.

In July 2022, we launched our cost of living strategy, an 8-point package of actions to help our residents, built around three main pillars:

  • Committing a £10m package of support to help families in Westminster that are struggling with the rising cost of living
  • Working with our partners to ensure that we coordinate and maximise our impact
  • Making sure our residents have the information they need to access all the support that is on offer to them

Visit the cost of living support hub

The information provided can help you with everything from accessing government financial aid to finding local advice services. Whatever hardships you’re facing, we’re here to help.

Information and help are available on all of the following topics

Energy costs 

Financial help

Food support services 

Coping with debt 

Finding a career

Mental health support 

Westminster Citizen’s Advice

Citizens Advice Westminster offer free, confidential, and impartial information and advice on benefits, debt, money, housing and other issues. They offer a drop-in video advice service for Westminster residents.

To find out more call freephone 0808 278 7834 or visit www.westminstercab.org.uk.

Financial Advice

You may be entitled to financial benefits that will help you pay your service charge. To find out if you qualify for benefits you should contact your local Jobcentre Plus office, or your local Citizens Advice.

You can call Jobcentre Plus between 8am and 6pm.

Call: 0845 603 6347 or 0800 055 6688
Text phone service: 0800 0234 8888
Visit: www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus

You can also seek advice from National Debtline  http://www.nationaldebtline.org

Or Step Change debt charity

https://www.stepchange.org/

Contact your mortgage provider

Your mortgage provider has an interest in the property and may offer assistance. We recommend that you contact them to discuss how they can help you.

Please complete the Citizens Advice Budgeting Tool Work out your budget.

Help & Support with Rising Energy Costs

With energy prices set to increase across the country, we know that many people will be worried about rising expenses and we want to provide as much support as possible to our residents.

A range of support and guidance is available if you’re struggling with your energy bills, concerned about rising energy prices, or would like further information on how you can cut your energy use at home.

Please find our dedicated support page here; Help and support with rising energy costs.

Help with housing costs

If you’re out of work or on low income, you could get a Universal Credit payment to help pay your housing costs.

This might include help towards the cost of building insurance, or for service charges such as the cost of some shared services, repairs and maintenance.

You might also qualify for help with mortgage interest payments.

Visit Universal Credit’s website for more information or call them on 0800 328 5644.

Help for Households Campaign

The government is offering help for households. See what cost of living support you could be eligible for. This includes;

  • Support with household costs
  • Help with energy bills
  • Help with childcare costs
  • Income support
  • Help with transport costs
  • Help finding work

Help for Households - Get government cost of living support

Published: 8 January 2021

Last updated: 18 October 2023