HAV/43UD/LSC/2025/0830 — service charge decision
In HAV/43UD/LSC/2025/0830, decided 30 September 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 22 disputed service charge items at 15 Princes Court, Markenfield Road, Guildford, GU1 4QR and found largely for the leaseholder: 22 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 15 Princes Court, Markenfield Road, Guildford, GU1 4QR
Decision date: 30 September 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2021/22) | — | £75 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2022/23) | — | £90 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2023/24) | — | £105 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested, Apportionment error |
| Buildings insurance (2024/25) | £589.99 | £120 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested, Apportionment error |
| Management fees (2021/22) | — | £50 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Management fees (2022/23) | — | £50 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Management fees (2023/24) | — | £50 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Management fees (2024/25) | — | £50 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Other charges (2021/22) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Other charges (2022/23) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Other charges (2023/24) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Utilities (2021/22) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2022/23) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2023/24) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2024/25) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Gardening & grounds (2023/24) | £48.37 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023/24) | £301.71 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024/25) | £512.41 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2024/25) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2024/25) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Cleaning (2024/25) | £177.84 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Poor standard of work |
| Other charges (2024/25) | £173.56 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“the flat rate approach does not appear, in the Tribunal's view, a reasonable approach to take. The Applicant has obtained insurance quotations for the property as an individual dwelling as a guide to a reasonable amount”
“the flat rate approach does not appear, in the Tribunal's view, a reasonable approach to take.”
“the flat rate approach does not appear, in the Tribunal's view, a reasonable approach to take.”
“the flat rate approach does not appear, in the Tribunal's view, a reasonable approach to take. The Applicant has obtained insurance quotations for the property as an individual dwelling”
“The fee at £265 in 2021/22 escalating to £286 is in the Tribunal's opinion high having regard to the Property, its circumstances of that particular property, and the services delivered.”
“an appropriate management fee in each of the service charge years would be £50.00 per annum.”
“The fee at £265 in 2021/22 escalating to £286 is in the Tribunal's opinion high having regard to the Property, its circumstances of that particular property, and the services delivered.”
“Detailed invoices, accounts and expenditure records were, he says, not substantially provided until March 2026, after expiry of the statutory period referred to in section 22 of the 1985 Act”
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.