CAM/22UJ/LIS/2024/0600 & others — service charge decision
In CAM/22UJ/LIS/2024/0600 & others, decided 4 December 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 27 disputed service charge items at Flats 2 and 6-13, Allis Mews, Harlow, Essex and reached a mixed result: 11 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flats 2 and 6-13, Allis Mews, Harlow, Essex
Decision date: 4 December 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Principle Estate Management LLP.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2019-2023) | — | — | Reduced | Poor standard of work, Works not necessary |
| Other charges (2015-2018) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | — | — | conceded | Not payable under the lease |
| Cleaning (2015-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2022) | — | — | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Utilities (2015-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2015-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2015) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2022) | — | £3,851.23 | Reduced | Poor standard of work, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | £547.20 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Apportionment error, Section 20B 18-month time limit |
| Major works (2022) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | £240 | £240 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2015-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2015-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2015-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2015-2022) | — | — | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2022-2023) | — | — | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Other charges (2015-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2022) | £900 | £450 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2022) | £600 | £600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2023) | £480 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2022) | £71.10 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Administration charges (2023) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Other grounds |
| Other charges (2022-2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2023) | £1,500 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Works not necessary |
Section 20C order: partial. Section 20ZA dispensation: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“from service charge year 2019 (inclusive) and onwards, only 50% of the grounds maintenance costs are payable by the Leaseholders.”
“up until 2019, only 'grounds maintenance' was provided, so all costs occurred on that account were payable in full by the Leaseholders.”
“The Freeholders conceded that the Leaseholders were not obliged to pay for this expenditure.”
“the Tribunal was satisfied that cleaning had taken place at all times and to a satisfactory standard... Therefore all cleaning costs from all years are payable by the Leaseholders.”
“£189.05 of the window cleaning costs charged to the Leaseholders relating to service charge year 2022 is not a relevant cost”
“the electricity charges were payable in full, as demanded, for every service charge year in dispute.”
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.