LON/00AH/LSC/2022/0033 — service charge decision
In LON/00AH/LSC/2022/0033, decided 6 September 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 24 disputed service charge items at Flat 2, 28 Grasmere Road, Purley and reached a mixed result: 11 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 2, 28 Grasmere Road, Purley
Decision date: 6 September 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-2021) | £380 | £95 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-2021) | £400 | £80 | Reduced | Poor standard of work |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-2021) | £750 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Poor standard of work, Works not necessary |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-2021) | £180 | £50 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-2021) | £95 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Works not necessary |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-2021) | £180 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-2021) | £400 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020-2021) | £750 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Poor standard of work |
| Other charges (2020-2021) | £146.25 | £146.25 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2020-2021) | £240 | £240 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020-2021) | £1,000 | £1,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021-2022) | £3,500 | £3,500 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2021-2022) | £200 | £200 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2021-2022) | £1,500 | £1,500 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021-2022) | £450 | £450 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2021-2022) | £2,400 | £1,200 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Cleaning (2021-2022) | £500 | £400 | conceded | — |
| Other charges (2021-2022) | £1,500 | £450 | conceded | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021-2022) | £1,500 | £750 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Legal & professional costs (2021-2022) | £438 | £438 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2021-2022) | £874.80 | £874.80 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021-2022) | £450 | £450 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021-2022) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2021-2022) | £2,000 | £2,000 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“the tribunal was surprised that only one plate had been applied when there are four doors affected by the problem of the door handle hitting the wall. The cost was considered excessive and the Tribunal will allow £95.”
“Loose tiles - the work carried out was of poor quality and therefore the Tribunal will allow £80 which reflects that quality.”
“Astroturf-the Tribunal considers that the ground had sunk and the Astroturf had been badly laid because the sand had not been compacted properly. Accordingly the Tribunal allows nothing for the cost of the works to the Astroturf.”
“Works to the loose banister- these were largely decorative works and could have been carried out at lower cost. The Tribunal will allow £50.”
“Draught excluder - this was installed when it was not required and therefore no sums are allowed.”
“Repair to the railway sleeper-it did not appear that any works had been carried out and therefore no sums are allowed.”
“Its not clear why another contractor was not appointed to finish the job.”
“the tribunal was surprised that only one plate had been applied when there are four doors affected by the problem of the door handle hitting the wall.”
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.