LON/00AA/LSC/2023/0153 — service charge decision
In LON/00AA/LSC/2023/0153, decided 10 October 2024, the First-tier Tribunal considered 5 disputed service charge items at Flats 1-10, White Horse House, 1 Little Britain, London EC1A 7BX and found largely for the leaseholder: 5 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flats 1-10, White Horse House, 1 Little Britain, London EC1A 7BX
Decision date: 10 October 2024
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: FirstPort Property Services Ltd.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major works (2021-22) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Works not necessary, Estoppel or prior agreement, Other grounds |
| Major works (2022-23) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Estoppel or prior agreement, Other grounds |
| Reserve fund contributions (2021-22) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Estoppel or prior agreement, Other grounds |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022-23) | — | — | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Other grounds |
| Management fees (2022-23) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Other grounds |
Key passages (verbatim)
“the tribunal determines that there is no evidence that the monies expended on major works are anything other than uncommitted service charges. Here it prefers the arguments of the Applicants. It considers that a purchase order does not equate to a contract”
“The Applicant Lessees have no liability to pay service charges for major works carried out to neighbouring premises.”
“The tribunal determines that the monies paid by the Applicant lessees to the Second Respondent prior to the date of acquisition of the right to manage are not payable in so far as these monies were paid to the reserve fund and relate to the major works”
“the tribunal determines that the Applicant lessees are liable for monies expended on general maintenance for the period 1st August 2022 to 11 October 2022 but only to the extent that it has been reasonably incurred during that period and is reasonable in amount. This amount is not to include monies in relation to the major works.”
“There are therefore no service charges payable by the Applicant Lessees to the Second Respondent following the exercise of the right to manage”
“In the event the additional evidence was of little material significance to the tribunal reaching its decision.”
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.