Decision summary

CAM/42UF/LIS/2024/0004 — service charge decision

In CAM/42UF/LIS/2024/0004, decided 9 June 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 23 disputed service charge items at Apartment 1 The Manor, Herringswell, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 6SH and found largely for the landlord: 1 item was reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.

Property: Apartment 1 The Manor, Herringswell, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 6SH
Decision date: 9 June 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK

Managing agent named in the decision: Encore Estates (Mrs Buckley).

What was challenged and what the tribunal decided

ItemDemandedAllowedOutcomeGrounds
Utilities (2022-2023)£8,654£8,654Allowed in full
Staffing & concierge (2022-2023)£43,427£43,427Allowed in full
Repairs & maintenance (2022-2023)£6,827£6,827Allowed in full
Other charges (2022-2023)£0£0Allowed in full
Reserve fund contributions (2022-2023)£27,599£27,599Allowed in full
Buildings insurance (2022-2023)£18,680£18,680Allowed in full
Other charges (2022-2023)£0£0Allowed in full
Utilities (2023-2024)£2,800£2,800Allowed in full
Staffing & concierge (2023-2024)£50,813£50,813Allowed in full
Repairs & maintenance (2023-2024)£13,656£13,656Allowed in full
Other charges (2023-2024)£1,499£1,499Allowed in full
Reserve fund contributions (2023-2024)£34,625£34,625Allowed in full
Buildings insurance (2023-2024)£23,110£23,110Allowed in full
Other charges (2023-2024)£0£0Allowed in full
Major works (2023-2024)£523£523Allowed in full
Utilities (2024-2025)£2,392£2,392Allowed in full
Staffing & concierge (2024-2025)£47,336£47,336Allowed in full
Repairs & maintenance (2024-2025)£8,900£8,900Allowed in full
Other charges (2024-2025)£1,651£1,651Allowed in full
Reserve fund contributions (2024-2025)£26,125£26,125Allowed in full
Buildings insurance (2024-2025)£55,081£55,081Allowed in full
Other charges (2024-2025)£0£0Allowed in full
Administration charges (2024-2025)£250Disallowed entirely

Section 20C order: refused.

Key passages (verbatim)

“the Tribunal was satisfied that the sums as set in the table above are payable and reasonable by the Applicant.”
On utilities
“the amounts set in the above tables are deemed payable and reasonable.”
On staffing & concierge
“the figures as provided for in the table above are deemed payable and reasonable.”
On repairs & maintenance
“for the year 2022 to 2023, a risk assessment had not been carried out due to a fire incident in March 2022 and therefore there was zero expenditure for the first year.”
On other charges
“the figures are set out in the table above are deemed payable and reasonable.”
On reserve fund contributions
“The Tribunal therefore determines that the sums as sought in the above table are therefore payable and reasonable.”
On buildings insurance
“Ideally, the Tribunal would have benefited from being provided with all the invoices to substantiate the figures.”
Of Respondent (re general maintenance evidence)
“Whilst the plan itself was not particularly detailed, it did clearly set out a projection for major works over the next decade and the Tribunal was satisfied that the Respondent intends to collaborate with an expert third party to formalise the plan.”
Of Respondent (re long-term maintenance plan)

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.