CAM/26UJ/LSC/2022/0035 — service charge decision
In CAM/26UJ/LSC/2022/0035, decided 22 November 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 35 disputed service charge items at 6 Durrants House, Gloucester Court, Croxley Green, Herts WD3 3FT and found largely for the landlord: 4 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 6 Durrants House, Gloucester Court, Croxley Green, Herts WD3 3FT
Decision date: 22 November 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Ethical Leasehold Management (ELM).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2017) | £514 | £514 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2017) | £10,270 | £10,270 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2018) | £10,526 | £10,526 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £600 | £600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £595 | £595 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £235 | £235 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £985 | £985 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2019) | £10,960 | £10,960 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £670 | £670 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £559 | £559 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020) | £10,960 | £10,960 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £368 | £368 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £348 | £348 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £586 | £586 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £360 | £360 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £466 | £466 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £360 | £360 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £360 | £360 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £790 | £790 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £404 | £404 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £126 | £126 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021) | £1,055 | £1,055 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2021) | £11,450 | £11,450 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £501.60 | £250.80 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £774 | £0 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £393.60 | £0 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £624 | £0 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £384 | £384 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £824.80 | £824.80 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £209.99 | £209.99 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £45.45 | £45.45 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2022) | £900 | £900 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £476.07 | £476.07 | Allowed in full | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2022) | £2,141.86 | £2,141.86 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2022) | £11,544 | £11,544 | Allowed in full | — |
Key passages (verbatim)
“The tribunal determines that it is clear from the evidence that it was not unreasonable to make the periodic 'patch' replacement works that were necessary to protect the fabric of the building. The recharged cost of £514 is not challenged and given the costs of access, materials and labour for a property of this type is clearly reasonable.”
“For the reasons set out the challenge to the management charge based on a poor management service is rejected by the tribunal.”
“The challenge to the management fee of £10,526 is based on the same grounds as for 2017. It is rejected by the tribunal for the same reasons set out above in respect of that accounting year.”
“In relation to the recharges for scaffolding @ £600 and works related to a roof leak @ £595 it is clear from the evidence that these are necessary actual costs arising due to the ongoing challenge of repairing areas of the roofs at Gloucester Court as necessary.”
“In relation to the recharges for scaffolding @ £600 and works related to a roof leak @ £595 it is clear from the evidence that these are necessary actual costs arising due to the ongoing challenge of repairing areas of the roofs at Gloucester Court as necessary.”
“In relation to the recharges for the fitting of snow guards @ £235 which Mr Langley argues are to stop slipped tiles caused by defective workmanship falling outside the estate office, it is clear on the evidence that they were fitted after proper consideration that they were needed.”
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.