Utilities Procurement & Management

What a Communal Supply Actually Covers

Communal utility supplies form part of the service charge and are separate from the energy account you hold for your own flat. They pay for the things the building consumes collectively: lighting to hallways, stairs and car parks, lifts, door entry systems, pumps, and communal heating or hot water where a development has it.

Because the building is the customer rather than any individual resident, the contract is negotiated at development level. On a block of any size that is a material line in the budget, and how well it is bought shows up directly in what residents pay.

Renewable Supply as Standard

Transitioning to renewable energy is a key element of our sustainability strategy. Through our partnership with Ecotricity we supply our managed properties with 100% UK-generated renewable electricity, reducing carbon emissions and supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future.

It is a procurement decision with a sustainability outcome attached rather than a separate initiative, which is generally how the two work best together.

When a Supply Fails

If there is no running water in your property, contact your water provider first, the company that bills you, as they are responsible for the mains supply. Where a development runs a communal water system managed by us, contact us instead. Loss of water is treated as urgent, so use the telephone rather than email.

If you lose electricity, check your consumer unit for a tripped switch, then contact your electricity supplier. You can also reach the local network operator on 105 or at powercut105.com to check for reported outages. If several properties in the building are affected it may be a communal supply issue, and our 24-hour line is the fastest route to us.

Waste, Recycling and Other Communal Services

Most developments we manage are served by the local authority for refuse and recycling. Missed collections should be reported to the council directly, though we are happy to report on residents' behalf and it helps to tell us so we can monitor the situation. Where a development has private collection arranged instead, it is procured and managed like any other communal service contract.

Two resident habits cost buildings real money. The first is bulky items left in or beside communal bin stores, which the council will not take: where that happens we may have to arrange a private collection, and that cost can find its way back into the service charge. Councils generally offer a bulky waste collection service through their website, which is both the correct route and the cheaper one.

The second is contamination. When general waste goes into recycling bins, the load can be rejected for recycling and has to be handled as general waste instead, which can trigger additional collection requirements and charges from the local authority. Following the council's recycling guidance is a small thing that measurably protects the budget.