Westway HA presents: Service Charge Training with CIH

INTRODUCTION TO LEASEHOLD & TENANCY MANAGEMENT (FOCUSSING ON SERVICE CHARGES)

Date: 15th September 2014 Location: Westway Housing Association                               Ladbroke Hall, 79 Barlby Rd, London W10 6AZ Time: 10:00 – 16:30

Description

To make leasehold and service charge management more effective.

Learning Outcomes/objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. State the characteristics of long leases (traditional and shared ownership) and similarities with periodic tenancies

2. Understand the importance of what is written in the lease

3. Explain good practice in billing for and setting service charges (long leases as well as periodic tenancies)

4. State good practice about how to levy services charges on periodic tenants

5. Explain the difference between variable & fixed service charges

6. Understand the statutory framework for service charges and what is says about the need to provide Value For Money (VFM)

7. Manage the Section 20 process when major works are required and manage the repayment of associated charges

8. Apply measures who could help in preventing service charge arrears

9. Appreciate the Universal Credit Housing Cost rules

10. State good practice in managing the collection of service charges

11. Explain the powers of the courts to forfeit leases and how to forfeit leases

12. Understand the role of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)

DAY PLAN

10.00               Introductions/ course aims/objectives/lesson plan/timetable

10.10              Contents of leases & Tenancies/Rights and Obligations of tenants and leaseholders. Shared ownership leases. Varying leases and tenancies. Differences between the two.

EXERCISE

11.15               Break

11.30               Service Charge management getting it right.

DISCUSSION ON KEY ASPECTS

11.45               Setting Service charges for leaseholders and periodic tenants/Accounting for depreciation/Apportionment issues/Ensuring value for money. Issues around periodic tenancies/variable and fixed service charges (understanding the difference)

EXERCISE

12.30              Statutory framework for service charges and why leaseholders might be able to challenge service amounts/ Can periodic tenants do the same?

13.00               Lunch

14.00               Major Works

EXERCISE

15.00               Break

15.15               Income Recovery Strategies/Other Leasehold Rights/FTT

                        Similarities and differences for period tenancies

                        Universal Credit and Housing Costs

16.00               CASE STUDIES

16.30               Finish