CAM/42-UD/LIS/2023/0018 — service charge decision
In CAM/42-UD/LIS/2023/0018, decided 30 September 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 37 disputed service charge items at 117 & 139A Churchman House, Portman Road, Ipswich and reached a mixed result: 6 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 117 & 139A Churchman House, Portman Road, Ipswich
Decision date: 30 September 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Block Management UK Ltd / Paul Mather.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2021) | £12,030 | £2,670 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Lifts (2021) | £9,413 | £9,413 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021) | £1,896 | £1,896 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £515 | £515 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £9,855 | £9,855 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2021) | £661 | £661 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2021) | £31 | £31 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2021) | £3,293 | £3,293 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2021) | £2,885 | £2,885 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2021) | £7,028 | £7,028 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021) | £297 | £297 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021) | £428 | £428 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2021) | £797 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Duplication of charges |
| Other charges (2021) | £1,269 | £1,269 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021) | £227 | £115 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2021) | £101 | £101 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2021) | £240 | £34 | Reduced | Duplication of charges |
| Other charges (2021) | £600 | £600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2021) | £669 | £525 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Management fees (2021) | £7,000 | £7,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Lifts (2022) | £3,997 | £3,997 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £402 | £402 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £690 | £690 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £16,662 | £16,662 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2022) | £790 | £790 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2022) | £30 | £30 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2022) | £5,230 | £5,230 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2022) | £2,600 | £2,600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2022) | £2,873 | £2,873 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2022) | £385 | £385 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2022) | £428 | £428 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £841 | £841 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £27 | £27 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £473 | £473 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £720 | £720 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2022) | £662 | £525 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Management fees (2022) | £7,000 | £7,000 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: refused.
Key passages (verbatim)
“two of the assessments (Michael A Fox Assoc Ltd invoices 247 and 349 totalling £9,360) have been removed from the claim as they relate to cladding. This leaves £2,670 due for the Kendon Safety and Whale Fire Ltd assessments.”
“The tribunal considers that the sum of £9,413 is reasonable and payable.”
“They are clearly relevant costs reasonably incurred. The tribunal considers that the sum of £1,896 is reasonable and payable.”
“No supporting evidence is offered to show that this item of work could be obtained in the marketplace for half of the actual cost recharged. The cost is unremarkable for the works described.”
“The tribunal considers that the sum of £9,855 is reasonable and payable.”
“The tribunal considers that the paladin arrangement is a reasonable management decision taken by the claimant which itself comprises the lessees of Churchman House. The tribunal considers that the sum of £661 is reasonable and payable.”
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.