Service charge results management overview
The results of a service charge calculation are analysed in two distinct ways: (1) By the constituent cost elements, and (2) By the individual assets to which the service charges are apportioned. Whilst the derivation of proposed service charges through a defined calculation provides a good foundation for the final values, there will invariably be a need for fine tuning; hence it is possible to override individual figures both at cost element and asset level. To facilitate this, the original base values are maintained separately for each calculation method - import, model and manual - in parallel with the amended values. End users are therefore able to manipulate the figures at each stage, safe in the knowledge that the original values can easily be retrieved, if required. Once the cost element results have been cascaded down to asset level, any subsequent override values will not only update the individual cost elements but also the asset records to which they are linked. Conversely, where changes are applied to the individual asset records, these have no impact on the source cost element values.
The flexible solution delivered within Civica Cx Housing provides end users with complete choice over whether to apply any service charge amendments directly within the interface, or to manipulate figures externally within a spreadsheet package, managing the transfer of data through tightly-controlled export and import routines. Once the initial results have been derived within Civica Cx Housing through the calculation scenario, the 'export results' routine generates a prescribed delimited text file, containing all data fields and values within the framework of the calculation model. The text file values can then be manipulated en masse at the end user's discretion (being careful to preserve the original file structure) before being reimported back into the calculation model, ready for final verification. These conjoint processes - export results / import results - provide an efficient method of changing the calculated cost element and asset results using Microsoft Excel, or similar, with the added confidence that the import file will always match the expected structure. System validation rules ensure that the underlying data integrity is upheld and any errant values are automatically rejected.
Once the service charge results have been finalised and all required adjustments applied, the figures can be formally accepted into the schedules, ready to be embraced within the standard rent review process.
Separate help articles have been created for each key aspect of service charge results management, including:
In addition, separate help articles focus on the data transfer opportunities for refining service charge calculations, specifically: