HAV/00HG/LSC/2025/0694 — service charge decision
In HAV/00HG/LSC/2025/0694, decided 27 October 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 6 disputed service charge items at Flat 3, 34 Victoria Place, Stoke, Plymouth and reached a mixed result: 3 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 3, 34 Victoria Place, Stoke, Plymouth
Decision date: 27 October 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Plymouth Block Management (Residential Block Management Group).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2020) | — | £777.16 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021) | — | £1,328.88 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | — | £3,085.56 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Other grounds |
| Other charges (2023) | — | £1,449.34 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Other charges (2024) | — | £1,815.49 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs | £10,748.80 | £7,242.90 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
Key passages (verbatim)
“Y/E ending 31.12.2020. £777.16”
“Y/E ending 31.12.2021. £1,328.88”
“2022 1,727.78 +S. 20 + balancing charge +1,501.20 +107,33 3,336.31”
“2023 1,727.78 less surplus ( 278.44) 1,449.34”
“Y/E ending 31.12.2024. £1,815.49”
“I remain unhappy with the quantum of the costs incurred for a claim of this value and have therefore decided to reduce the amount claimed by 20%”
“I remain unhappy with the quantum of the costs incurred for a claim of this value and have therefore decided to reduce the amount claimed by 20% which is what I told Miss Agunbiade during the hearing.”
“it is totally disproportionate in comparison with the value of the claim.”
“I have not seen any correspondence in the bundle which is addressed to the Respondent, and which notifies him of that. In fact, the bundle does not contain copies of any correspondence from the Applicants legal representative addressed to the Respondent.”
“Mr Horton's written defence is difficult to follow. He does not offer any cogent explanation why he has not paid towards the service charges between 2020 and 2024.”
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.