CAM/34UF/LSC/2025/0627 — service charge decision
In CAM/34UF/LSC/2025/0627, decided 26 February 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 6 disputed service charge items at Flat 4, Southgate House, 25A Henry Bird Way, Northampton, NN4 8GE and found largely for the leaseholder: 6 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 4, Southgate House, 25A Henry Bird Way, Northampton, NN4 8GE
Decision date: 26 February 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Firstport Property Services Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2024) | £990 | £475 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Reserve fund contributions (2024) | £7,000 | £3,300 | Reduced | Not payable under the lease, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2025) | £2,020 | £1,850 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2025) | £1,000 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Reserve fund contributions (2025) | £9,500 | £3,300 | Reduced | Not payable under the lease, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Administration charges (2023) | £345 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“Given the Respondent's failure to engage with the Applicant's clearly pleaded case on this point, its failure to produce evidence of its costs over and above the £475 for the FRA in 2024... we find that only £475.00 was reasonably incurred in respect of health and safety and risk assessments in the 2024 year.”
“we agree with the Applicant and find that the reasonable sum for reserve fund contributions in the 2024 service charge year is £500 towards the redecoration reserve and £2800 towards the general reserve, as was demanded in previous years.”
“We agree with the Applicant that a 25% increase, without explanation, in the provision for insurance in 2025 is unreasonable. We accept that a reasonable increase... would have been 15%. We find that the reasonable provision for insurance in the 2025 budget is £1850.00.”
“Given the Respondent's failure to provide any explanation about this decision, nor to give details of what assessments or inspections were likely to be required in 2025, we find that it was not reasonable to make any provision for risk assessments in the 2025 budget and assess the proposed costs under this head of expenditure as £0.00.”
“we agree with the Applicant and find that the reasonable sum for reserve fund contributions in the 2025 budget is £500 towards the redecoration reserve and £2800 towards the more general reserve.”
“The Applicant invites us therefore to find that none of the sums demanded are payable and we do so.”
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.