CHI/OOHB/LSC/2023/0018 — service charge decision
In CHI/OOHB/LSC/2023/0018, decided 26 January 2024, the First-tier Tribunal considered 17 disputed service charge items at Flat 1, Gospel Hall, Langford Road, Bristol BS13 7AR and reached a mixed result: 11 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 1, Gospel Hall, Langford Road, Bristol BS13 7AR
Decision date: 26 January 2024
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Circle Residential Management Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2020) | £264.38 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Gardening & grounds (2021) | £595 | £595 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2022) | £510 | £510 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2021) | £477 | £477 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2022) | £359 | £359 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2023) | — | £110 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Other grounds |
| Other charges (2022) | £619.08 | £619.08 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £133.06 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2022) | £265.82 | £265.82 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2023) | £475 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2021) | £1,069.63 | £855.70 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2022) | £3,599.99 | £732 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)), Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Management fees (2023) | — | — | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Other charges (2021) | £307.20 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Other charges (2022) | £386.60 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Not payable under the lease, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Administration charges (2022) | £204 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Demand formally invalid |
| Administration charges (2023) | £240 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Demand formally invalid |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The Respondent has failed to show on the balance of probabilities that £264.38 is payable by the Applicant as an excess service charge for the 2020 service charge year.”
“the Tribunal finds on the balance of probabilities that costs of £595.00 were incurred for gardening from the invoices produced at [250] and [176]”
“£510 was incurred for this head of cost in the 2022 year. The sums incurred were within the reasonable band of costs which a landlord could incur”
“The final sum claimed by Circle on behalf of the Respondent for cleaning is £477.00 for the 2021 year”
“The Applicant's challenge to this figure is not made out.”
“The Tribunal allows 2 visits at £37.50 each a total of £75.00 as an on account payment for 2023. Similarly … The Tribunal allows 2 visits at £17.50 each £35.00 as an on account payment for 2023.”
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.