CAM/26UK/LSC/2022/0064 — service charge decision
In CAM/26UK/LSC/2022/0064, decided 28 April 2023, the First-tier Tribunal considered 4 disputed service charge items at 142 St Albans Road, Watford, Hertfordshire and reached a mixed result: 2 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 142 St Albans Road, Watford, Hertfordshire
Decision date: 28 April 2023
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Mr Ethan Freilich.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major works (2022) | £22,500 | £15,517.82 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Major works (2022) | £6,000 | — | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Management fees (2022) | £1,050 | £1,050 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £700 | £700 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“If we amend the external and internal decorating cost which totals £26,500 to reflect the quote and the associated cost therewith, this reduces the total sum which could be realistically claimed as an estimated service charge, back down to £23,172.64.”
“a second section 20 notice was issued on 6th May 2022 where a quote was accepted from TLL Contracts in the sum of £17,694 to which professional fees including surveyors fees and project management was added in the sum of £1,061.64 making the total cost of the work £18,755.64.”
“the management fee of £1,050 for the three flats which is £875 plus VAT is not unreasonable and certainly the Applicants produced no alternative quotes to show that this was out of the ordinary.”
“the estimated charge of £700 seems to be supported by the fact that more than this has been spent in the year.”
“The thrust of this was that there had been they said gross mismanagement and neglect of the Property and that if these complaints had been taken seriously and dealt with when raised, the extensive repairs would not now be required.”
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.