CHI/29UM/LIS/2023/0006 — service charge decision
In CHI/29UM/LIS/2023/0006, decided 26 June 2023, the First-tier Tribunal considered 3 disputed service charge items at Flat B, 301 High Street, Sheerness, Kent and reached a mixed result: 1 item was reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat B, 301 High Street, Sheerness, Kent
Decision date: 26 June 2023
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major works (2021-22) | £634.84 | £634.84 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2021-22) | £350 | £350 | conceded | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2021-22) | £1,872 | £1,422 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
Key passages (verbatim)
“We are satisfied that £634.84 is a reasonable total sum of which Mrs Willens is liable to pay 39.38%.”
“Mrs Willens during the course of the hearing conceded that following hearing Mr Thompson's explanation she was satisfied that the cost of the ivy removal from the garden (total cost £350, invoice [130]) was payable and the cost reasonable”
“We reduce the costs by £450 plus vat leaving a total sum of £1,422 payable of which the applicant must pay her proportion.”
“This is the latest decision in a long history of decisions made relating to the subject property and the service charges payable for the same. It has been said before but the parties would certainly benefit from trying to work together to ensure these disputes do not arise which frankly benefit neither party.”
“This is a very considerable period of time for a firm of solicitors to spend on a debt collection exercise. We do not have the breakdown.”
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.