Service charges are charges that are levied by landlords or freeholders for costs they incur in relation to the maintenance, upkeep or insurance of a property or for providing any services. These may include costs for a managing agent. Details of what can be charged will be set out in the lease so check what is rightfully claimed. Examples of these are cleaning or maintenance of common parts, improvements, gardening, heating, maintaining any services such as lighting or lifts, insurance, security etc. The landlord or freeholder is not obliged to provide any services other than what is provided for within the lease and the leaseholder is not obliged to pay for any services being claimed that are not provided for in the lease.