CAM/22UD/LSC/2022/0034 — service charge decision
In CAM/22UD/LSC/2022/0034, decided 28 October 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 13 disputed service charge items at 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 27 Consort Close; 23, 25, 27, 35, 37, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 and 74 Brackens Drive; 5, 9, 11, 13, 21, 23, 26, 28, 48, 52, 54 and 62 Wellington Place; 13, 15, 17, 19 and 27 Queen Street; Warley, Brentwood and found largely for the landlord: 0 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 27 Consort Close; 23, 25, 27, 35, 37, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 and 74 Brackens Drive; 5, 9, 11, 13, 21, 23, 26, 28, 48, 52, 54 and 62 Wellington Place; 13, 15, 17, 19 and 27 Queen Street; Warley, Brentwood
Decision date: 28 October 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Pier Management Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2019-2020) | £328.64 | £328.64 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2019-2020) | £340 | £340 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2019-2020) | £352.50 | £352.50 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2019-2020) | £387.45 | £387.45 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020-2021) | £347.52 | £347.52 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020-2021) | £349.88 | £349.88 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020-2021) | £362.47 | £362.47 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020-2021) | £404.45 | £404.45 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021-2022) | £379.15 | £379.15 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021-2022) | £378.22 | £378.22 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021-2022) | £391.85 | £391.85 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021-2022) | £445.46 | £445.46 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges | — | £0 | conceded | — |
Section 20C order: refused.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The Tribunal determines that the reasonable and payable Building Insurance Premium in the Service Charge for the years in issue relating to the Properties is as follows: Year ending 31st July 2020 Consort Close £328.64”
“Year ending 31st July 2020 Brakens Drive £340.00”
“Year ending 31st July 2020 Wellington Place £352.50”
“Year ending 31st July 2020 Queens Street £387.45”
“Year ending 31st July 2021 Consort Close £347.52”
“Year ending 31st July 2021 Brakens Drive £349.88”
“Whilst the Respondent has clearly undertaken market testing, it is not clear from the information provided as to what the various quotes provided were and the basis upon which the chosen insurer was considered to the most competitive. In this regard, the letter dated 26 July 2022 is limited in its assistance as there is no explanation in this regard.”
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.