LON/00AH/LSC/2022/0134 — service charge decision
In LON/00AH/LSC/2022/0134, decided 11 October 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 11 disputed service charge items at The Residences, 4 Edridge Road, Croydon, Surrey and found largely for the landlord: 0 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: The Residences, 4 Edridge Road, Croydon, Surrey
Decision date: 11 October 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: HLM Property Management.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2022) | £143,442.42 | £143,442.42 | Allowed in full | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2022) | £143,016.84 | £143,016.84 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2022) | £55,000 | £55,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £23,500 | £23,500 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £30,000 | £30,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2022) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2022) | £1,298 | £1,298 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £2,240 | £2,240 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £7,000 | £7,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £3,000 | £3,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2022) | £2,500 | — | Withdrawn | — |
Section 20C order: refused.
Key passages (verbatim)
“the Tribunal accepted that there was no requirement on the landlord to find the cheapest quote. In the absence of comparable evidence from the applicants for very similar blocks and alternative premium quotations for an exact like for like cover it is difficult for the tribunal to say the budgeted premium charged is unreasonably incurred.”
“this amount was a reasonable estimate of the potential costs for the provision of a concierge on a 24 hour basis and as such is considered reasonable and payable.”
“this amount was a reasonable estimate of the potential costs for the provision of common parts electricity and as such is considered reasonable and payable.”
“this amount was a reasonable estimate of the potential costs for the provision of a water supply for all the flats in the block and as such is considered reasonable and payable.”
“this amount was a reasonable estimate of the potential costs for the provision of plant maintenance and as such is considered reasonable and payable.”
“The Tribunal from its own knowledge of service charges of this type was satisfied that this was a reasonable estimate and was thus payable.”
“It was apparent to the tribunal that the application was misconceived as it was clear that objections were about the substance of the service charges rather than the level of the estimated charges.”
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.