CHI/29UC/LIS/2021/0046 & others — service charge decision
In CHI/29UC/LIS/2021/0046 & others, decided 29 June 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 14 disputed service charge items at Bridge Hill House, Higham Lane, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5AY and found largely for the landlord: 4 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Bridge Hill House, Higham Lane, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5AY
Decision date: 29 June 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Bamptons.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2019) | £3,254.04 | £3,260 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020) | £3,766.92 | £3,725 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2019) | £3,709.79 | £3,024 | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Management fees (2020) | £2,760 | £2,760 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2019) | £5,500.56 | £2,380 | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Gardening & grounds (2020) | £2,555 | £4,251 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £3,370.80 | £3,370.80 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2019) | £960 | £780 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Legal & professional costs (2020) | £1,320 | £780 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2019) | £1,320 | £1,320 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £2,139 | £2,139 | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2019) | £8,634 | £8,634 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £1,413.41 | £1,413.41 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £3,110 | £3,110 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20ZA dispensation: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“This challenge is not made out and the sums are payable in full.”
“the sums recoverable are those in the accounts for the year end; i.e. £3,260 and £3,725.”
“The accounts provide for £3,024 for management fees for 2019 and £2,760 for 2020 and those are the sums that are payable.”
“The accounts provide for £3,024 for management fees for 2019 and £2,760 for 2020 and those are the sums that are payable.”
“I allow the costs actually incurred as set out in the accounts, being for 2019, grounds maintenance of £2,380”
“for 2020, grounds maintenance of £3,261 and Tree works of £990.”
“In my view, these sums do appear excessive for what should be the straightforward provision of service charge accounts. There is a likelihood that the cost has been exacerbated by the approach taken to the service charges in this building. It is also disconcerting that there are discrepancies between the amounts claimed in the accounts and the invoices provided.”
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.