Service Charges - ARK x TPI

Powering Up TPI’s Service Charge Index 

Transforming how service charge data is collected, processed, and analysed.

What is TPI Service Charge Index

The Service Charge Index is published to provide members and the wider industry valuable insights into how service charge expenditure evolves in different property types across England and Wales, highlight cost trends and providing a narrative to explain cost trends. This Index, launched in 2024, has already established itself as an essential benchmark, providing in-depth analysis of the trends and factors driving costs—yet challenges remain in capturing and collating this data at a scale that’s meaningful and impactful and balancing the time taken for members to provide us with cost data manually.

To assist, Ark Residential has partnered with TPI  to create a software platform designed to revolutionise how service charge data is collected and analysed for TPI Service Charge Index in 2026. Ark Residential is a resident engagement and building management platform used by managing agents to streamline communication and operations. It integrates directly with leading property management systems such as MRI Qube or Blockman, ensuring that accurate data — from property details to service charge balances — is always accessible and up to date, streamlining the way building and financial data is transferred, categorised, and standardised.

By partnering with Ark Residential, TPI is introducing a more efficient, secure, and automated way for managing agents and property managers to share service charge data.

Why is this needed?

Until now, collecting data for TPI Service Charge Index was a manual and time-consuming process of completing a template spreadsheet and re-categorising cost headings across different schedules. Members often had to reformat or rekey information, which delays submissions and limits the amount of data we can include in the Index each year, consequently reducing its overall impact and reliability.  

By creating this platform, we’re addressing these challenges by:

• Automating data collection to save members time and reduce the admin burden.
• Improving accuracy and consistency through standardised data formats.
• Expanding participation so the Index reflects a broader range of developments across the country.

The goal is to create a stronger, more representative Service Charge Index that benefits the entire sector — offering more reliable benchmarking and deeper insights.

Is the platform secure? 

Data security is central to the platform. 

All information shared through the platform is encrypted both in transit and at rest, ensuring it is protected at every step. Only a small number of authorised TPI and Ark Residential personnel directly involved have access, and strict separation ensures that data is fully isolated.

Most importantly, your data always remains yours. Neither TPI nor Ark Residential takes ownership of any information you provide — it is used solely to produce anonymised, aggregated insights for the Service Charge Index. Once the process is complete, all source data is securely deleted, leaving only anonymised information for analysis.

In short, this project has been built around confidentiality, transparency, and trust — ensuring that members can participate with complete confidence that their information is handled responsibly and securely.

Why your participation matters

Your involvement helps shape the future of TPI Service Charge Index — and allows TPI to provide an accurate account of service charge cost trends, which can be helpful for media, residents, and other stakeholders. By taking part, you’re helping to:

• Build a more accurate and reliable national dataset.
• Support evidence-based benchmarking for service charge costs
• Strengthen TPI’s role in representing and supporting property professionals.

Together, we can create a system that benefits everyone — from managing agents to residents — by improving transparency, efficiency, and understanding across the sector.

How does it work?

Participants securely share anonymised service charge data through the platform. The software system – which has been exclusively design for TPI – automatically collects and categorises key financial information from your property management software.

The process is straightforward:

• Secure connection: The platform connects with your CRM or management system (e.g. MRI Qube, Blockman).
• Automatic data collection: Relevant financial and building data is extracted and categorised. Original data is then securely deleted.
• Data anonymisation: Personal information is removed before it reaches TPI.
• Analysis and Reporting: TPI uses aggregated, anonymised data to produce the Service Charge Index.

For more information, please refer to the FAQs page HERE.