BIR/00GA/LIS/2023/0040 — service charge decision
In BIR/00GA/LIS/2023/0040, decided 20 June 2024, the First-tier Tribunal considered 4 disputed service charge items at Flat 4, Gwynne Gate, Catherine Street, Hereford, HR1 2ED and reached a mixed result: 4 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 4, Gwynne Gate, Catherine Street, Hereford, HR1 2ED
Decision date: 20 June 2024
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Mr Michael Williams (Company Secretary).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-21) | £2,900 | £1,200 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2020-21) | £725 | £625 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2021-22) | £725 | £625 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2022-23) | £725 | £625 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“the Tribunal finds the reasonable cost of the work to have been £1,200 (One Thousand Two Hundred Pounds) including paint in 2021, rather than the £2,900 paid by the Freeholder.”
“the Tribunal therefore deducts £100 from the new service charge of £725 p.a. per flat as the other items comprising the service charge were not disputed, and assesses the service charges for years ending 30 June 2021, 2022 and 2023 at £625 p.a.”
“assesses the service charges for years ending 30 June 2021, 2022 and 2023 at £625 p.a.”
“assesses the service charges for years ending 30 June 2021, 2022 and 2023 at £625 p.a.”
“During the Tribunal discussion Mr Williams said the £780 paid to the sub-contractor would have excluded paint. He said the Freeholder may have been over-charged, however the work needed to be carried out and it was too late to object.”
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.