Collect these figures for each apartment
| Item | Where to check | Why it changes the comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Approved rate and year | DLD Service Charge Index | An older rate may not describe the current bill |
| Chargeable area | Apartment statement | The billing area must match the rate |
| Additional items | Itemised statement | Cooling or other costs may sit outside the headline figure |
| Outstanding amounts | Owner or building manager | A clean annual estimate does not settle unpaid balances |
Check the actual statement for the apartment being considered.
Use the official index for the correct project
DLD’s Service Charge Index lets you select the project, use and year to view approved fees. Match the project carefully, especially when similar names appear. Keep a copy of the result with the statement supplied for the apartment.
The calculator above shows what your chosen rate and area mean over a year and per month. It does not fill in a building rate for you. That figure should come from the approved information and the apartment’s own paperwork.
Compare complete budgets
Put recurring building charges, utilities, insurance and your own maintenance allowance on separate lines. If two apartments have different inclusions, comparing a single headline rate can make the cheaper option appear better than it is.
Ask what each charge covers and whether an amount is a recurring bill, a refundable deposit or a one-off payment. Keep those categories separate when deciding how much cash the purchase and first year require.
A useful question at the viewing
Ask the owner or agent for the latest full statement rather than an approximate annual amount quoted from memory. If a charge is unclear, obtain an explanation from the building manager before using it in a budget.