CAM/26UE/LWS/2020/0001 — service charge decision
In CAM/26UE/LWS/2020/0001, decided 2 March 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 14 disputed service charge items at 1 Mayfield Court, London Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2NN and found largely for the landlord: 6 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 1 Mayfield Court, London Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2NN
Decision date: 2 March 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Hightown Housing Association.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2018/19) | £165.72 | £154.86 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2018/19) | £279.96 | £220 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Reserve fund contributions (2018/19) | £424.32 | £424.32 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2018/19) | £821.52 | £821.52 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2018/19) | £205.08 | £205.08 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018/19) | £25.73 | £25.73 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2019/20) | £169.44 | £153.93 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2019/20) | £279.96 | £220 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Utilities (2019/20) | £232.56 | £232.28 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Reserve fund contributions (2019/20) | £426 | £425.96 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019/20) | £845.16 | £150.55 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Ground-rent-adjacent charges (2018/19) | £230 | £230 | Allowed in full | — |
| Ground-rent-adjacent charges (2019/20) | £230 | £230 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2018/19) | £185 | £185 | Allowed in full | — |
Key passages (verbatim)
“She accepted that no details or evidence of this had been provided to us and that we would determine the figure of £154.86 based on the documents provided.”
“taking into account these points and the less than helpful information provided to leaseholders, we consider that a management fee of £220, but no higher, was reasonably incurred.”
“Since the reserve fund contribution had not been challenged by the Respondents in their defence, and based on the evidence provided, we consider that the claimed contribution of £424.32 is reasonable.”
“since these claims are not challenged by the Respondents in their defence, and based on the evidence provided, we consider that these costs were reasonably incurred.”
“since these claims are not challenged by the Respondents in their defence, and based on the evidence provided, we consider that these costs were reasonably incurred.”
“we allow … the balancing payment of £25.73”
“In our assessment, the quality of information provided to leaseholders was not good. It seeks to cover the basics, but is very difficult to follow and does not give enough information to enable calculation of the service charges being demanded, or not in a way that corresponds with those service charges, as explained below.”
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.