CAM/22UH/LSC/2023/0059 — service charge decision
In CAM/22UH/LSC/2023/0059, decided 24 March 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 8 disputed service charge items at 123 Blackthorn Road, Ilford, Essex and reached a mixed result: 3 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 123 Blackthorn Road, Ilford, Essex
Decision date: 24 March 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Red Rock Estate & Property Management Ltd.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management fees (2022) | £240 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2015-2016) | £768.95 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2016-2018) | £1,255.60 | £418.53 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2018) | £196.75 | £196.75 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2018-2019) | £247.95 | £247.95 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2018-2019) | £241.42 | £241.42 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2019) | £247.45 | £247.45 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2019-2020) | £78.96 | £78.96 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“in the absence of the actual letter being before the Tribunal for further consideration as to reasonableness, the Tribunal cannot make that determination... the sum of £240.00 in respect of the management fee is not reasonable and therefore not payable by the Respondent.”
“there is no invoice available before the Tribunal in respect of the first period charged for between 1 August 2015 to 30 June 2016. In the absence of corroborative evidence the Tribunal is not satisfied that it can determine this sum to be payable.”
“the sum sought is reduced by two thirds to £418.53”
“The Tribunal accepts the sums raised as service charges by the Applicant from the 10 January 2018 to the 26 February 2020. These sums are supported by the water bills produced within the Bundle.”
“The Tribunal accepts the sums raised as service charges by the Applicant from the 10 January 2018 to the 26 February 2020.”
“The Tribunal accepts the sums raised as service charges by the Applicant from the 10 January 2018 to the 26 February 2020.”
“This is clearly inaccurate as the Respondent resides within Block G in a one-bedroom flat and she is aware of friends within the Block who have a 3-bedroom flat. The Tribunal therefore notes with concern that Red Rock does not appear to have suitable knowledge of premises of which it is managing.”
“For the avoidance of any doubt, the Tribunal did not consider that there was compliance with those directions in so far as setting out a clear an understandable Scott Schedule of disputed charges.”
“the Applicant had not sufficiently engaged with the Respondent in addressing her concerns electing instead to pursue the matter through the County Court.”
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.