The service charge budgets represent those costs that would be expected to be incurred in a normal year of operation with a full development. It is the intention of McCarthy & Stone Management Services to ensure the service charge budgets are set as accurately as possible. Where possible, we try to keep annual increases in line with inflation although certain costs such as Utilities can have inflationary pressures that are outside of our control. Typically, our developments have shown a slight surplus to date, which is refunded each year to homeowners within six months of the end of the period.