CAM/000KC/LSC/2020/0019 — service charge decision
In CAM/000KC/LSC/2020/0019, decided 5 October 2020, the First-tier Tribunal considered 6 disputed service charge items at 6 Optima House, 43 High Street South, Dunstable, Beds LU6 3RZ and reached a mixed result: 2 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 6 Optima House, 43 High Street South, Dunstable, Beds LU6 3RZ
Decision date: 5 October 2020
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Moreland Estate Management Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2020) | £4,750 | £4,750 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2020) | £3,750 | £3,750 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020) | £3,022 | £2,934 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £1,500 | £500 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2020) | £1,210 | £1,210 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2020) | £750 | £750 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“My finding on the insurance is that the sum demanded is not unreasonable. However, the Landlord's agents should provide the information requested by Mr Curran in his letter so that he can fully review the insurance premium.”
“the alternative estimates indicate figures not so far removed from the Landlord's estimated charges and accordingly I find that an estimated demand of £3,750 is reasonable.”
“I would reduce the management fee to the 2019 level of £2,934, a saving of £88.”
“I find that this estimated charge over eggs the pudding and reduce it to £500, close to the actual charge in 2018 but still giving some wriggle room for costs in the year 2020. This gives a saving of £1,000.”
“I find that the estimated demand is reasonable, notwithstanding the estimates given by the Applicants.”
“The electricity in 2019 was £631.87 and an uplift to £750 is in my finding reasonable.”
“The Applicants have not been helped by the Respondent's lack of involvement. On 3rd July 2020 Mr Curran wrote to the agents, Moreland Estates, requesting information which would have given him a chance to have obtained a comparable cost for insuring the property. He received no response.”
“This seems to me to be generous, especially given the lack of involvement by the managing agents in these proceedings.”
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.