BIR/OOCN/LIS/2024/0014 — service charge decision
In BIR/OOCN/LIS/2024/0014, decided 30 March 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 37 disputed service charge items at The Cube, 196 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RN and reached a mixed result: 32 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: The Cube, 196 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RN
Decision date: 30 March 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Fidum Property Management Ltd.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2018) | — | — | Reduced | Undisclosed insurance commission, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2019) | — | — | Reduced | Undisclosed insurance commission, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2020) | — | — | Reduced | Undisclosed insurance commission, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2021) | — | — | Reduced | Undisclosed insurance commission, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2022) | — | — | Reduced | Undisclosed insurance commission, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2023) | — | — | Reduced | Undisclosed insurance commission, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2021) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Staffing & concierge (2022) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Staffing & concierge (2023) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Staffing & concierge (2024) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Staffing & concierge (2021) | £4,740 | £2,356 | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Cleaning (2018) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2019) | £37,952.24 | £30,361.80 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2020) | £31,784.89 | £28,606.41 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2021) | £35,354.33 | £30,051.18 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2022) | £45,032.89 | £36,026.32 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2023) | £45,499.39 | £36,399.52 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2018) | £17,568.18 | £16,689.78 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2019) | £29,413 | £27,942.35 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2020) | £30,175.20 | £28,666.45 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2021) | £30,206.40 | £28,696.08 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2022) | £31,694.40 | £30,109.68 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2023) | £34,224 | £32,512.80 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2018) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Utilities (2019) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Utilities (2020) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Utilities (2021) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Utilities (2022) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Utilities (2023) | — | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Utilities (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021) | £43,692 | £26,930 | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Other charges (2022) | £43,119.80 | £26,223 | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Other charges (2023) | £43,990.70 | £25,975 | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Other charges (2024) | £55,713.54 | £25,975 | Reduced | Apportionment error |
Key passages (verbatim)
“We are not satisfied that the total commissions paid to Reich for the years 2018 – 2023 were reasonably incurred.”
“We are not satisfied that the total commissions paid to Reich for the years 2018 – 2023 were reasonably incurred.”
“We are not satisfied that the total commissions paid to Reich for the years 2018 – 2023 were reasonably incurred.”
“We are not satisfied that the total commissions paid to Reich for the years 2018 – 2023 were reasonably incurred.”
“We are not satisfied that the total commissions paid to Reich for the years 2018 – 2023 were reasonably incurred.”
“We are not satisfied that the total commissions paid to Reich for the years 2018 – 2023 were reasonably incurred.”
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.