CHI/23UE/LSC/2020/0056 — service charge decision
In CHI/23UE/LSC/2020/0056, decided 12 February 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 19 disputed service charge items at Fitzalan House, Park Road, Gloucester and reached a mixed result: 9 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Fitzalan House, Park Road, Gloucester
Decision date: 12 February 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Peak Estates Limited (PEL).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning (2019) | £8,547.20 | £7,904 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Cleaning (2020) | £8,000 | £8,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2019) | £1,350 | £1,350 | Allowed in full | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2020) | £1,500 | £1,500 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2019) | £7,073.85 | £4,922.18 | Reduced | Apportionment error, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2020) | £4,900 | £4,900 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £7,160.19 | £5,708.19 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £1,500 | £1,500 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019) | £207.84 | £207.84 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £1,150 | £1,150 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2019) | £1,278.66 | £605.48 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2020) | £1,400 | £700 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Gardening & grounds (2019) | £532.80 | £340.80 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Gardening & grounds (2020) | £1,400 | £700 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Lifts (2019) | £4,099.20 | £4,099.20 | Allowed in full | — |
| Lifts (2020) | £2,000 | £2,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2019) | £8,000 | £4,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2020) | £6,300 | £6,300 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2019) | £250 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Not payable under the lease |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The Tribunal accepts that the charge for all cleaning, excluding the carpet cleaning costs, in 2019 of £7,904 is reasonable.”
“The budget for cleaning costs for 2020 is £8,000 ... the Tribunal determines it is reasonable.”
“Carpet cleaning 1,350.00”
“Carpet cleaning 1,500.00”
“The amount shown in the accounts of £7,073.58 is determined to be unreasonable. The Tribunal determines that a reasonable amount is £4,922.18.”
“The Applicant has not challenged the 2020 insurance charge.”
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.