HAV/29UH/LIS/2025/0009 — service charge decision
In HAV/29UH/LIS/2025/0009, decided 24 February 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 12 disputed service charge items at Flat 16, Miller Heights, 43-51 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone and reached a mixed result: 12 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 16, Miller Heights, 43-51 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone
Decision date: 24 February 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Centrick Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2019-20) | £1,656.84 | £1,322.41 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2020-21) | — | — | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2020-21) | £1,656.84 | £855.37 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Other charges (2021-22) | £2,427.31 | £1,528.60 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Cleaning (2021-22) | £14,256.19 | £6,000 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021-22) | £30,000 | £5,000 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Staffing & concierge (2021-22) | £25,666.67 | £9,000 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2021-22) | £28,000 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2022-23) | £2,051.32 | £1,600.03 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Staffing & concierge (2022-23) | £44,700 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Administration charges (2022-23) | £762 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Demand formally invalid, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Legal & professional costs (2022-23) | £1,680 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Demand formally invalid |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“We find that we are entitled to rely on the audited Accounts as being the costs incurred by the Applicant's predecessor-in-title and based on the 1/140th apportionment the amount the Respondent is liable to pay for 2019/20 is £1,322.41 rather than £1,656.84.”
“The Management fees (£38,100.57) are equivalent to 21% of the Total expenditure… which we consider to be excessive… we have allowed a Management fee of 15% of the total costs we have allowed in managing the Building.”
“based on the 1/140th apportionment the amount the Respondent is liable to pay for 2020/21 is £855.37 rather than £1,656.84.”
“based on the 1/140th apportionment the amount the Respondent is liable to pay for 2020/21 is £1,528.60 rather than £2,427.31.”
“Communal Area Cleaning 14,256.19 → 6,000.00”
“General Repairs 30,000.00 → 5,000.00”
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.