🏠 MORTGAGE & PROPERTY

Property Service Charge Calculator

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.

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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
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
🔗 RELATED TOOLS
Case workspace

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.

Evidence checked

Risk flags

Open dashboard
PDF gate

Email the checklist and unlock print/PDF

The core tool stays free. The deeper PDF pack captures email only when the user wants a portable report, checklist and dashboard reminder.

Continue workflow
Rent AffordabilityRental YieldProperty Management Fees
Competitor check - 28 April 2026

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

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
Primary checks
Next best tools
Review pack

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.