BIR/00CS/LSC/2024/0618 — service charge decision
In BIR/00CS/LSC/2024/0618, decided 16 July 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 8 disputed service charge items at 150 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 6JJ and reached a mixed result: 7 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 150 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 6JJ
Decision date: 16 July 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Colmore Gaskell Property Management Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifts (2023-24) | £7,500 | £4,770 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Lifts (2023-24) | £468 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Works not necessary |
| Lifts (2023-24) | £200 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Works not necessary |
| Cleaning (2023-24) | £2,016 | £1,330.56 | Reduced | Poor standard of work, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Buildings insurance (2023-24) | £9,000 | £9,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023-24) | — | — | Reduced | Poor standard of work, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Cleaning (2023-24) | £9,480 | — | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2023-24) | £12,182 | £3,045.50 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“Only one invoice for the year was adduced… the only invoice adduced was for £4770 inclusive of Vat. As no evidence was adduced by the Applicants as to the charges incurred the Tribunal limits the cost of lift repairs to be included in the service charge account to £4770.”
“Lift Maintenance £468. The Respondent admitted no work was carried out in the year. That sum is disallowed.”
“Lift Phone £200. Disallowed as no repair in the year.”
“Ms Hong repeatedly complained of incomplete attention to the windows of her apartment without recourse. As the work was incomplete the Tribunal determines a reasonable sum for window cleaning is 66% of actual cost £1330.56”
“Invoices were produced by the Respondent. The Applicants did not produce any evidence that the premium was excessive. The Tribunal makes no change to the cost of this item.”
“The disclosed invoices for door repairs total £1315.20. The Tribunal determines this sum should be deducted from the costs of General Repairs included in the calculation of service charge. A further sum of £500 is deducted for CCTV costs incurred in failing to ensure the security system was working.”
“As the financial position of the landlord deteriorated the agent appears to have reduced their engagement with the property. The Applicants complained of persistent lack of attention to their issues. There were serious issues of security and health affecting the property but each month the agent submitted their account for management services.”
“Although invoices were produced, they were not presented in a chronological order, many related to years no longer in dispute and few gave details of work actually performed.”
“The costs budgeting for the subject year was a duplicate of the budget presented for the previous year. Moreover, invoices submitted by Colmore Gaskell as evidence of costs incurred related to work done in 2022, the previous year.”
This summary is assembled from the structured record of the published decision; amounts appear only where the tribunal stated them. Always rely on the full decision itself.