LON/00AG/LSC/2021/0021 — service charge decision
In LON/00AG/LSC/2021/0021, decided 2 June 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 7 disputed service charge items at Ground Floor Flat, 99 Iverson Road, London NW6 2QY and reached a mixed result: 3 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Ground Floor Flat, 99 Iverson Road, London NW6 2QY
Decision date: 2 June 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Ideal Management.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2017) | £788.98 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Section 20B 18-month time limit |
| Utilities (2018) | — | £64.44 | Reduced | Section 20B 18-month time limit |
| Other charges (2018) | — | £75 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2018) | — | £15 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2018) | £1,186.17 | £1,186.17 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2018) | £750 | £250 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Management fees (2019) | £250 | £250 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The demand for service charges for the year ended 31 December 2017 was not made until 9 January 2020 which is more than 18 months after the charges were incurred. No evidence was provided that the tenant was notified in writing that those costs had been incurred.”
“Electricity invoices for the common parts for the period 2 June 2018 to 29 November 2018 total £64.44.”
“Fire Alarm service 75.00 11/07/2018”
“cleaning common parts 15.00 20/08/2018”
“the tribunal considers that the whole of the premium is payable in the year in which it occurs as the cost is not apportioned in the accounts between different service charge years.”
“The managing agents fee of £250 is challenged as being unreasonable in amount... There is no evidence before the tribunal that managing agents services could be procured more cheaply and therefore the tribunal accepts this fee is reasonable.”
“The tribunal notes that the freeholders also control the agents, and that the freeholders have interests in the other flats. The managing agents are not at arm's length from the freeholders.”
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.