CAM/26UD/LSC/2025/0631 — service charge decision
In CAM/26UD/LSC/2025/0631, decided 15 December 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 17 disputed service charge items at 90 Pearson Avenue, Hertford, Hertfordshire and reached a mixed result: 8 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 90 Pearson Avenue, Hertford, Hertfordshire
Decision date: 15 December 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Sovereign Network Homes.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities (2018-19) | — | £-1.88 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2018-19) | £6.68 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Utilities (2018-19) | £2.48 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Management fees (2018-19) | £24.95 | £24.95 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019-20) | £165.30 | £117.55 | Reduced | Poor standard of work, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Gardening & grounds (2019-20) | £306.54 | £150 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2019-20) | £108.69 | £100 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2020-21) | £50.93 | £50.93 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020-21) | £133.48 | £133.48 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-21) | £25.18 | £25.18 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2020-21) | £685.01 | £342.50 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2020-21) | £69.46 | £69.46 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2021-22) | £208.70 | £208.70 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2022-23) | — | — | Withdrawn | — |
| Utilities (2022-23) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Other grounds |
| Management fees (2023-24) | — | — | Withdrawn | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023-24) | £250.38 | £75 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost, Poor standard of work |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“for the year ending 2019, the communal electricity costs should be a credit of £1.88 to the Applicant.”
“The Respondent confirmed that a charge was not made for cleaning costs in the budget, and so the Applicant was not liable to pay cleaning costs. The amount of £6.68 was therefore not payable.”
“The Respondent confirmed that a charge was not made for communal heating and hot water in the budget, and so the Applicant was not liable to pay. The amount of £2.48 was therefore not payable.”
“The Tribunal finds that £24.95 is payable and accepts the Respondent's evidence that the amount claimed equates to 15% of the service charge expenditure.”
“the Tribunal finds that the cost of the report should be reduced by one third. The Tribunal therefore reduces the cost of the Legionella Report to £382 ... meaning that the Applicant's contribution is reduced from £165.30 to £117.55.”
“The Tribunal accepts the Applicant's position that a charge of £150 has been reasonably incurred for the ground maintenance work for the service charge year ending 2020.”
“The Tribunal does not accept the Respondent's evidence relating to the repair to the wooden communal gate leading to 88-90. This job has attracted three work numbers but there was no evidence before the Tribunal to explain this.”
“The Tribunal did not have before it details of the work that was completed and, further, the Tribunal accepts the evidence of the Applicant that the Building was surrounded by a relatively small area of grass. The Tribunal therefore does not accept the Respondent's position that grounds maintenance costs of £306.54 were reasonably incurred.”
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.