Service charges in Ikoyi/VI can run ₦1.5M–₦5M per year — that's ₦125K–₦416K per month on top of your rent or mortgage. See the full breakdown: security, generator, maintenance, management before you buy or rent.
🇳🇬 Nigeria estates🇰🇪 Kenya gated🇿🇦 Body corporate🇬🇭 Ghana estates🇪🇬 Egypt compounds
🏢
Service Charge Calculator
Select country, estate tier, and apartment size to estimate charges
ESTATE / DEVELOPMENT TIER
Basic Estate
Simple gated community, minimal facilities
—
Mid-Range
Security, generator, pool, gym
—
Luxury Estate
Full-service, concierge, multiple amenities
—
🏢
Select a country to load service charge data
Monthly Service Charge
—
Estimated range
Annual Service Charge
—
Per year
Service charge as % of monthly rent—
Service Charge Breakdown
What Tenants / Owners Should Know
AI OBSERVATIONS
Smart Insights
Select a country and estate tier to get AI-powered insights on service charges and what to look out for before signing.
🔍 WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE BUYING
Always ask for the last 3 years of service charge statements
Check if there are any outstanding special levies or arrears on the unit
Generator fuel can be 30–50% of total service charges in Nigerian estates
SA body corporate: special levies require 75% owner vote
Ask if the estate has a Sinking Fund for major repairs — if not, expect future special levies
Confirm if service charges are capped or can increase without notice
This workspace turns the estate and body-corporate cost check result into a reusable matter note, dashboard item and gated PDF checklist. Use the app first, then save the evidence trail.
Benchmarked against Rentometer, AirDNA, Zillow Rental Manager and BuildZoom. The goal is not to copy them; it is to bring the useful workflow pattern into an Africa-first tool with official-source caution and local evidence capture.
Observed feature pattern
Property tools improve trust by showing comparable evidence, market assumptions, inspection or permit data and a dated report trail.
Rental platforms connect screening, lease, payments, deposit evidence and renewal steps instead of stopping at a calculator result.
Investment tools separate gross numbers from operating cost, vacancy, tax, permit and title risk so the user can defend the decision.
Implemented on this app
This page now asks for matter, country or regime, date, status, evidence and risk flags before the user exports a note.
The app-specific checklist is not generic: it starts with "Ask for the latest budget, audited accounts and arrears statement".
Saved workflows can be resumed from the dashboard and handed off to Rent Affordability when the matter naturally continues.
The PDF/export moment is a value-after-result gate, so users can still use the tool first and only share email when saving the report.
Best next move
Which costs are fixed, variable, metered, reserve-fund or one-off special levy
Ask for the latest budget, audited accounts and arrears statement
Low advertised rent but high uncapped service charge
Reviewed 28 April 2026 · Service charge model
Estate and body-corporate cost check
Service charge can make a property unaffordable even when rent or mortgage works. The app should identify security, generator, water, lifts, waste, insurance, sinking fund and arrears exposure.
Decisions this clarifies
Which costs are fixed, variable, metered, reserve-fund or one-off special levy
Whether the owner, tenant or association pays each line
Whether arrears or weak management make services unreliable
Before you rely on it
Ask for the latest budget, audited accounts and arrears statement
Separate routine service charge from sinking fund and special levies
Check generator, water, security and waste costs against actual service quality
Red flags
Low advertised rent but high uncapped service charge
No audited accounts or owner association minutes
Large arrears that may become a special levy after purchase
Save the estate and body-corporate cost check trail
Before filing, signing, publishing, or sending anything, keep a short record that links the app result to evidence and official-source checks.
Capture
Save the country or regime, parties, dates, amounts, selected options, and final output. Add why this matters: Which costs are fixed, variable, metered, reserve-fund or one-off special levy.
Attach
Ask for the latest budget, audited accounts and arrears statement. Also keep the strongest supporting document, receipt, portal reference, ID, contract, policy, or court file beside the generated result.
Escalate
If you see this risk, pause and get qualified help: Low advertised rent but high uncapped service charge.
Paste this into your matter file, compliance folder, board pack, or lawyer handoff.