Why Freehold Homes on Willow Croft Still Pay a Service Charge

You might be wondering why there’s a service charge for a freehold home — after all, you own the house and the land, right? That’s true, but there’s a bit more to it. Here’s a quick and friendly explainer.


Estate Management:  What it is and Why it Matters


📝 1. It’s All in the Small Print (Your TP1 Document)

Even if it looks like there aren’t any shared spaces around, the legal document you signed when buying your home — the TP1 — often includes a clause about service charges. Developers include this by default, especially if there are things that still need looking after on the estate, whether you see them or not.

When Willow Croft was built, a management company called Willow Croft (Coventry) Management Company Limited was created by the developers.  This company is tasked with dealing with all property management issues on our development, including scheduled repainting, maintenance, and finance.  Everyone who owns a property signs an agreement called a TP1 which ties them into the management company. The management company has directors, who are Willow Croft property owners and who are tasked with overseeing the management of our development.

Some issues include, parking, which we had a major issue with, when Tile Hill Railway Station started fining owners of vehicles not parked in designated parking spaces.  Another example is making sure that there isn't an articulated lorry parked regularly in the street, which has happened. 

As part of the ongoing process to improve our area, we had to get parking restrictions enforced and the double-yellow lines at the entrance to Penruddock Drive extended to make the entrance and exit of Willow Croft safer for all. 

Another ongoing management task is making sure any additions or changes to properties does not affect the overall aesthetics of our development.

Generally ensuring that everything, where we live, runs as smoothly and effectively as possible.

Because we don't have the expertise to manage our development ourselves, we have to outsource to an agent to act on our behalf.
In the relatively short time the development has been in existence, finished in 2011, we have had many different companies tasked with this job and none, until recently have fulfilled our expectations and so we had to change.  Cannon Jones are the exception to the rule and since taking over in July 2023, have offered everything that is required from them and they go above and beyond their remit, to help us to achieve our aims.


🏡 2. “Freehold” Doesn’t Mean Free from Everything

Owning the freehold means the home and land are yours — but it doesn’t mean there are no strings attached. Most freehold homes on modern estates still come with a few built-in responsibilities, such as:

These are usually set out clearly in your TP1, and they’re legally binding once you’ve signed.


🔧 3. What Are You Actually Paying For?

Even if there’s no obvious communal garden or play area, there are often behind-the-scenes things that still need upkeep. For example:

Unadopted Infrastructure

Some roads, drains, or street lighting may not be maintained by the council — even if they look just like public ones.

Private Drainage Systems

Willow Croft has a private culvert/SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage System) setup that needs regular maintenance.  This is part of the flood defences for both the apartment blocks and the houses and is sometimes also referred to as The Watercourse.  It ensures that no part of our development, including the roads, ever gets flooded.

Management Company Setup

Sometimes a company like Willow Croft Management exists to meet planning or legal conditions. Even if it doesn’t provide obvious day-to-day services, the running costs are shared by all homeowners.

It’s worth noting that the estate roads at Willow Croft have since been adopted by Coventry City Council — but other private infrastructure may still remain.


❌ 4. Why You Can’t Opt Out of the Charge

Once it’s in your TP1, it becomes a legal obligation — not something you can simply choose to ignore. Even if you feel you don’t benefit directly, here’s why the charge still applies:


💷 The Service Charge Itself

Cannon Jones (our managing agent) currently receives £20.00 + VAT per year from each house. This covers their work on behalf of the Willow Croft Freehold Owners.