What service charges cover
In a shared building, some costs do not belong to any single home but to the whole residence: cleaning common areas, security, lift maintenance, corridor lighting, water for shared spaces. These are the service charges, and they keep the building running.
How they are split
Service charges are shared between occupants, usually in proportion to floor area or by a defined key. Rigorous management means tracking precisely what is owed and what is paid, otherwise unpaid charges unbalance the building’s budget. In some markets (the Gulf, for instance) they are formalised as an owners’ association service charge.
Keeping rent and charges apart
Separating rent from service charges on the rent receipt is essential clarity. Software like Condovise splits rent and charges at unit and lease level, which sharpens the relationship with the occupant and makes tracking reliable.