Lambeth Council has started issuing the 2025/26 actual day-to-day service charge statements to leaseholders and freeholders this week. These statements compare the estimated charges issued during the year with the actual costs incurred between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.
For Waterloo & South Bank ward:
- 379 homeowners are included in this year's exercise.
- 188 homeowners have received an additional invoice because actual costs were higher than estimated.
- 191 homeowners have received a credit note because actual costs were lower than estimated.
- Additional invoices ranged from 38p to £1,327.71, while credits ranged from 79p to £1,087.02.
The council has advised that the largest variations are usually linked to responsive repairs, as repair costs can fluctuate significantly from year to year depending on the number and nature of repairs required. Several local blocks saw increases or decreases in repair-related charges during the year, and some leaseholders at Cole House also saw additional costs associated with Section 20 works that had previously been consulted upon.
Across Lambeth, actual expenditure was approximately 0.9% lower than originally estimated, indicating that overall service charge estimates were broadly in line with actual costs.
If you receive a statement and have questions about the charges, repayment options, or your account, please contact the council's Homeownership & Rents team. Homeowners can also access their service charge information through the online homeowner portal.
As always, if you are a Waterloo & South Bank resident and need assistance understanding information you have received, please do get in touch with me.
Cllr Ibrahim Dogus
Labour Councillor for Waterloo & South Bank Ward
Photo: N Chadwick / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)