LON/00AB/LSC/2025/0911 — service charge decision
In LON/00AB/LSC/2025/0911, decided 23 February 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 9 disputed service charge items at Fuchsia House, 4 Panyers Gardens, Dagenham, Essex RM10 7FF and reached a mixed result: 6 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Fuchsia House, 4 Panyers Gardens, Dagenham, Essex RM10 7FF
Decision date: 23 February 2026
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | — | £250 | Reduced | No Section 20 consultation, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | No Section 20 consultation, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2022) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2022) | £8,276.50 | £3,795.10 | Reduced | Apportionment error, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Gardening & grounds (2022) | £2,265.60 | £2,265.60 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | £576 | £230.40 | Reduced | Apportionment error, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2025) | £3,492 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Other grounds |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £583.20 | £0 | conceded | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £504 | £0 | conceded | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The tribunal determines that Document 3 (Invoice 32474) is payable. The amount payable by each leaseholder is £250. All other invoices are not payable.”
“The Respondent was not able to provide any evidence to substantiate the works required. The tribunal therefore determined that Document 4, 5, 6, 7 and 23 are not payable.”
“The tribunal determines that the amount payable in respect of water charges (payable to Essex and Suffolk Water) for Fuchsia House is £0.”
“The total payable in respect of communal area gas for 2022 is £3,795.10.”
“The tribunal determines that the grounds maintenance charge of £2,265.60 is payable as has been charged in the 2022 accounts.”
“The tribunal determines that the leaseholders of Fuchsia House should pay £230.40 of Invoice 35771.”
“The tribunal has found instances of unexplained invoices, significant credits, incorrect accounting, lack of meter readings and misleading statements being made to the leaseholders when questions were raised about the service charges. This has caused confusion and unnecessary distress to the leaseholders. Ms Barker has spent significant time meticulously going through the service charges, due to the Respondent's apparent inability to do so themselves.”
“The Respondent pays Essex and Suffolk Water by direct debit. This has resulted in a substantial credit being built up on the account. This is not something that any reasonable person managing their own bills would allow to happen.”
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.