7  Rents and Service Charges

7.1 General

7.1.1 The Requirements in relation to the setting of rents and service charges in Social HomeBuy leases are the same as for New Build HomeBuy, see NBHB section 4.

7.1.2  The NBHB Requirements regarding Quality of Management & Maintenance Services & Service Charges apply to SHB, but there are also additional Requirements which are set out in the RTA Chapter (see below).

7.2 Quality of Management & Maintenance Services & Service Charges

7.2.1 See NBHB 4.3  for the shared ownership Requirements.

7.2.2 Although SHB is not subject to the statutory provisions of the Right to  Buy/RTA, RSLs are required to give leaseholders similar protection as Right  to Buy/Right to Acquire purchasers with regard to service charge and improvement contribution estimates. Provisions concerning service charge  estimates and sinking fund contributions must be set out in the lease.

7.2.3 RSLs may use their discretion should they wish to make a contribution towards the maintenance costs for tenants purchasing on a shared ownership basis.  Such contributions would not be eligible for Social Housing Grant nor a permitted use of RSLs' Recycled Capital Grant Fund or Disposal Proceeds Fund.