Ideally you should have a separate element of the WMC for service charge elements.The combination of service charge and housing costs are the WMC. There was a seminar provided last year on the importance of setting up service charge and it identified that some elements that can be included in a service charge may not be eligible for housing benefit
An added advantage to the service charges is that it provides and further opportunity to clearly demonstrate engagement with residents when holding an annual meeting for the service charge review and consulting on the various elements of the service charge and how as the landlord you are trying to obtain value for money in agreeing the contracts for the work whilst accurately accounting for the costs to maintain the services