Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the use of service charges in social housing.

2024-25 data published by the Regulator of Social Housing indicates that 62% of general needs Social Rent properties let by private registered providers of social housing include a service charge that is eligible for housing support. This increases to 95% for supported housing Social Rent properties. The Regulator does not currently collect service charge data for local authority registered providers.

Service charges usually reflect additional services which may not be provided to every tenant, or which may be connected with communal facilities rather than being particular to the occupation of a dwelling. Service charges for supported housing may also fund communal spaces and facilities as well as more intensive housing management, given residents’ needs.

Individual tenancy agreements set out service charges, if they apply.

The government’s policy statement on social housing rents sets out that providers must identify service charges separately from the rent charge. Registered providers are expected to consult with tenants if new or extended services are introduced.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 15 July 2026 (HCWS270).