The CSF is each owner’s annual contribution towards his/her share of the common expenditure of the community. The CSF rate is determined based on the estimated annual expenditure of the community for the operation and maintenance of the common property as well as its share towards the master community. Please see the community service fee page for further information.
There are various ways you can pay the community service fee relating to your property:
– By Emaar One app
– By cheque
– Online payment
– Self-service kiosk at Customer Happiness Centre, Emaar Square
– Visit our Credit Control Department at Emaar Square
– Bank transfer
Delayed/non-payment of the CSF can potentially deprive your community of the funds required to continue the supply of essential services such as common area maintenance, air-conditioning, security, street lighting, and irrigation. CSF defaulter awareness campaigns, as well as the suspension of non-essential services, have proved useful measures in boosting the collection of outstanding dues.
In some cases, a debt recovery agency has been appointed to supplement ECM’s actions. Approvals for unit sales and alterations are also restricted until the outstanding community service fees have been paid.
Our budgeting team considers the following aspects when calculating the community service fee (CSF):
· Historical expenses: We evaluate actual expense trends from the previous year based on individual cost items. Depending upon the operational plan, we decide whether or not to include them again in the following year’s budget. In addition, our hands-on experience from daily site operations gives further insight into various aspects of accurate budgeting and cost savings.
· Resource allocation on site: We periodically review resources on-site to find ways of improving performance by employing new technology and operational methods based on international best practices. This continuing development in the management of our resources has a substantial and positive effect on the budget.
· Service provider contracts: By regularly reviewing service provider contracts, we can evaluate key areas of improvement such as performance and cost savings. This helps us to determine future budgets and predict expenses.
· Capital asset evaluation (maintenance, repair, and replacements): Capital assets that are no longer under the manufacturer’s warranty are regularly reviewed for major maintenance or replacement. Essential equipment, such as sewage pumping stations and/or similar items, supports the overall infrastructure of the community. So we make allowance in our budget for the upkeep of these items, thus ensuring the community has sufficient funds available during times of emergency and/or when replacements are required.
· Provision for doubtful debts: This amount allows for the setting aside of a small portion of CSF collections as a provision in case certain receivables are required to be written off in the future. This practice conforms to the basic accounting principle of conservatism and this step is taken to strengthen the financial position of the community.
· Surplus/deficit adjustment from previous years: Finally, any surpluses or deficits from previous years are brought into consideration during the determination of the CSF rate for the current year. This allows us to maintain funds at an optimum level to cater for every eventuality and serve the community to the highest standards.
The general fund consists of the day-to-day operating and administrative expenses used to maintain your community, whether you live in an apartment or villa. Operational expenses include, but are not limited to, the maintenance, utility costs, and management of the following:
· Common areas including infrastructure, landscaping/irrigation, and water features; general as well as specialised cleaning; pest control; and civil works such as painting, tiling, masonry, and carpentry
· Air supply/distribution components for common areas and private units
· Common area lighting, which includes streets, walkways, corridors, façade, aircraft warning lights as well as intelligent and central emergency lighting systems
· Common and shared recreational areas such as gyms, squash courts, and swimming pools
· Elevators
· Garbage chutes and waste collection
· Firefighting equipment as well as fire detection and control systems/networks
· High and low voltage systems and networks (including earthing and protection systems)
· Generators and associated facilities
· Domestic water and supply systems/networks
· Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing assets (MEP)
· Signage – its design, manufacture, and placement within the community
· Access control systems
· Building management systems (BMS)
· Building maintenance units (BMU)
· Community security and control rooms
· Periodic upgrades and/or replacements of non-capital equipment and consumables
· Monitoring/supervision personnel including swimming pool lifeguards and security staff
· Mailbox service
· Compliance with statutory requirements and/or related internal policies, which includes water quality testing and monitoring, cleaning, security, waste management, insurance, noise levels, swimming pools, lifting equipment (elevators, BMU), firefighting and control systems (devices and equipment), pest control and management
Administrative expenses include, but are not limited to, the maintenance, utility costs, and management of the following:
· Community events and awareness campaigns
· Communication charges
· Statutory fees and permits
· Legal and professional fees
· Common area insurance
· Management costs
· Auditor’s fees
· Bank charges
A master community levy is charged to each community and other non-residential entities, for example, schools, clubs, and retail areas within a master community. This charge forms part of your CSF and covers items such as sewage treatment plants, maintenance of the master community infrastructure including roads, bridges, underground services, storm drains, sewage lines, and pavements. In other words, the master community levy goes towards the maintenance of areas that are not part of any particular community but are common to the master community and shared by all.
The special levy is a one-off charge for items not in the design or those not covered under the general fund.
