CAM/42UK/LSC/2024/0601 — service charge decision
In CAM/42UK/LSC/2024/0601, decided 28 April 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 24 disputed service charge items at 56 Nightingale, Isleham Marina, Fen Bank, Isleham, Ely, Cambridge CB7 5SL and reached a mixed result: 20 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 56 Nightingale, Isleham Marina, Fen Bank, Isleham, Ely, Cambridge CB7 5SL
Decision date: 28 April 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Ellen Cave.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening & grounds (2021) | £19,818 | £36.33 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £28,876 | £45.89 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2021) | £2,144 | £3.96 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Buildings insurance (2021) | £1,208 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Management fees (2021) | £10,368 | — | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Legal & professional costs (2021) | £430 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Legal & professional costs (2021) | £430 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Other charges (2021) | £1,920 | £17.14 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021) | £216 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Gardening & grounds (2022) | £22,657 | £26.22 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £12,660 | £40.27 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2022) | £10,648 | £3.57 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2022) | £1,393 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Other charges (2022) | £2,400 | £21.43 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2023) | £19,626 | £30.41 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | £9,500 | £35.71 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2023) | £674 | £2.68 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2023) | £1,598 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Other charges (2023) | £2,640 | £23.57 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2024) | £23,468 | £55.76 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024) | £12,660 | £55.44 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Buildings insurance (2024) | £2,206.30 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Legal & professional costs (2024) | £360 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Other charges (2024) | £2,640 | £23.57 | Allowed in full | — |
Key passages (verbatim)
“we determine that the reasonable cost payable by the Applicant is his offer of 1/112th of £4070 = £36.33”
“we determine that the reasonable cost payable by the Applicant is his offer of 1/112th of £5140 = £45.89”
“determine a reasonable amount for him to pay would be 1/112th of £444, i.e. £3.96”
“the Respondents may not recover the cost of site insurance as a service charge, as it is not within the service charge machinery of the lease”
“we therefore prefer the Applicant's evidence and deduct his proportion, being £9.23 (£1034/112)”
“the Respondents may not recover the cost of any legal fee as a service charge, as it is not within expressly stated within the service charge machinery of the lease”
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.