LON/00AF/LSC/2025/0890 — service charge decision
In LON/00AF/LSC/2025/0890, decided 29 April 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 24 disputed service charge items at Flat 6 Abingdon Lodge, 12 Beckenham Lane, Bromley BR2 0DL and reached a mixed result: 4 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 6 Abingdon Lodge, 12 Beckenham Lane, Bromley BR2 0DL
Decision date: 29 April 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2025) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2025) | — | £250 | Reduced | No Section 20 consultation |
| Management fees (2025) | — | — | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Other grounds |
| Other charges (2025) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2025) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2025) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2025) | — | — | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2024-25) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2024) | — | — | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2024) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2023-24) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2023) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022-23) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021-22) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2025) | — | — | conceded | — |
Key passages (verbatim)
“the water ingress problem was a building-wide issue and therefore a service charge issue … and (c) that the water ingress caused much damage which needed to be remedied and that this too was a legitimate service charge expense.”
“There is insufficient evidence that the Respondent went through a section 20 consultation process in relation to these works and there is no evidence before us that the Respondent has applied for dispensation. The Applicant's contribution towards the cost of these works therefore needs to be limited to a maximum of £250”
“we accept that the managing agent was only entitled to charge for the period to 1 October 2025 but appears to have charged for a full year … we consider that the management fee should be reduced by 40%.”
“we consider that £1,000 was a reasonable fee for this function. Therefore, this sum is fully payable.”
“the Applicant has brought no real evidence to show that this was a QLTA … The evidence before us suggests that it was a very informal arrangement … these charges are payable in full.”
“we note that the hearing bundle contains an invoice which specifies the work that was done and we accept that the amount charged is a reasonable cost for the work stated to have been done.”
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.