CAM/12UC/LSC/2021/0018 — service charge decision
In CAM/12UC/LSC/2021/0018, decided 7 October 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 33 disputed service charge items at 5 Cloughmore House, Trafalgar Street, Cambridge CB4 1ET and reached a mixed result: 16 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 5 Cloughmore House, Trafalgar Street, Cambridge CB4 1ET
Decision date: 7 October 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: John Price.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening & grounds (2018) | £840 | £840 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2019) | £840 | £840 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2020) | £1,200 | £840 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2018) | £350 | £50 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2019) | £170 | £50 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2020) | £200 | £50 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Cleaning (2018) | £356.40 | £356.40 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2019) | £356.40 | £356.40 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2020) | £400 | £400 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2018) | £941.11 | £865 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2019) | £916.83 | £916.83 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020) | £970 | £970 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2018) | £313.51 | £221.93 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2019) | £273.04 | £273.04 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2020) | £229.40 | £166.91 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2018) | £39.15 | £39.15 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2019) | £42.09 | £42.09 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2020) | £21.79 | £21.79 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018) | £25 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Other charges (2019) | £25 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Other charges (2020) | £25 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Management fees (2018) | £1,650 | £1,650 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2019) | £1,750 | £1,750 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020) | £2,000 | £1,850 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Repairs & maintenance (2018) | £315 | £315 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2018) | £615 | £615 | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2019) | £3,043.10 | £2,500 | Reduced | No Section 20 consultation |
| Other charges (2018) | £714.23 | £150 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Not payable under the lease |
| Other charges (2019) | £619.14 | £150 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2020) | £150 | £150 | Allowed in full | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2020) | £2,500 | £2,500 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018) | — | — | Disallowed entirely | Section 20B 18-month time limit |
| Administration charges (2018) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Section 20B 18-month time limit, Demand formally invalid |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The Tribunal determined that a charge of £840.00 per annum for the three years in issue was reasonable.”
“The Tribunal determined that a charge of £840.00 per annum for the three years in issue was reasonable.”
“The Tribunal determined that a charge of £840.00 per annum for the three years in issue was reasonable.”
“the Tribunal determines that in the absence of more specific invoice evidence, £50.00 per annum was reasonable for the years in issue for this particular garden.”
“the Tribunal determines that in the absence of more specific invoice evidence, £50.00 per annum was reasonable for the years in issue for this particular garden.”
“the Tribunal determines that in the absence of more specific invoice evidence, £50.00 per annum was reasonable for the years in issue for this particular garden.”
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.