The Property Institute (TPI) Service Charge Sentiment Survey 2026, delivered in partnership with Ark Residential, captures how property management professionals see service charge budgets being set for the year ahead.
The survey opens today, Thursday 1 October and closes on Friday 16 October. The survey asks for responses around the direction of service charge costs for 2027, the pressures driving those changes, and where the biggest areas of uncertainty lie.
Looking at key cost areas including buildings insurance, repairs and maintenance, reserve funds, utilities, building safety and remediation, the survey will also explore wider pressures affecting service charge budgets.
Why is it Important?
The survey will present an early picture of what is happening across the sector, ahead of TPI Service Charge Index 2027 being published. Your responses help to understand not only whether costs are expected to rise or fall, but why, and whether particular pressures are concentrated in certain types of buildings, portfolios or locations.
The findings will be published in November 2026 and will help to explain the reasons behind any changes in costs, and how these are reflected in the whole bill. It will also build a stronger evidence base for TPI's work with government and wider industry stakeholders.
The Sentiment Survey builds on TPI’s wider work with Ark Residential on the Service Charge Index, combining TPI’s sector expertise and member insight with Ark’s technology and data platform to strengthen the evidence, available on service charge costs and trends.
The more members who take part, the stronger and more representative the evidence will be. Therefore, TPI encourages as many members as possible to complete the survey, particularly those involved in setting, reviewing, or advising on service charge budgets.
Who is it for?
The survey is open to all TPI Company and Individual members, who are well placed to comment on service charge budgeting and cost pressures.
Members operating in England and Wales will need to complete the main service charge questions, while those managing properties in Scotland will be directed to a separate section reflecting the different common charges framework.
Members operating across more than one jurisdiction will be able to respond to all relevant areas.
Have Your Say
TPI's Service Charge Index partner, Ark Residential, will be hosting the survey. Please use your usual TPI login details to access the platform.
The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Responses will be anonymised and aggregated. Individual responses will not be published.
If you have any questions or issues accessing the survey, please contact: lmaroto@tpi.org.uk
