Decision summary

LON/00AJ/LSC/2025/0772 — service charge decision

In LON/00AJ/LSC/2025/0772, decided 20 October 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 26 disputed service charge items at 41 Torridon House, Churchfield Road, London W3 6GR and reached a mixed result: 3 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.

Property: 41 Torridon House, Churchfield Road, London W3 6GR
Decision date: 20 October 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK

What was challenged and what the tribunal decided

ItemDemandedAllowedOutcomeGrounds
Gardening & grounds (2020/2021)£99.61£89.65ReducedPoor standard of work
Gardening & grounds (2021/2022)£75.01£67.51ReducedPoor standard of work
Gardening & grounds (2022/2023)£62.35£56.12ReducedPoor standard of work
Management fees (2021/2022)£228.83£228.83Allowed in full
Management fees (2022/2023)£235.69£235.69Allowed in full
Staffing & concierge (2020/2021)£547.92£547.92Allowed in full
Staffing & concierge (2021/2022)£502.47£502.47Allowed in full
Staffing & concierge (2022/2023)£519.34£519.34Allowed in full
Cleaning (2020/2021)£2.42£2.42Allowed in full
Cleaning (2021/2022)£12.92£12.92Allowed in full
Cleaning (2022/2023)£13.33£13.33Allowed in full
Other charges (2020/2021)£4.83£4.83Allowed in full
Other charges (2021/2022)£4.08£4.08Allowed in full
Other charges (2022/2023)£16.75£16.75Allowed in full
Lifts (2020/2021)£99.92£99.92Allowed in full
Lifts (2021/2022)£77.22£77.22Allowed in full
Lifts (2022/2023)£79.58£79.58Allowed in full
Repairs & maintenance (2020/2021)£17.20£17.20Allowed in full
Repairs & maintenance (2021/2022)£64.44£64.44Allowed in full
Repairs & maintenance (2022/2023)£66.38£66.38Allowed in full
Other charges (2020/2021)£3.23£3.23Allowed in full
Other charges (2021/2022)£65.69£65.69Allowed in full
Other charges (2022/2023)£45.14£45.14Allowed in full
Other charges (2021/2022)£2.15£2.15Allowed in full
Other charges (2021/2022)£2.38£2.38Allowed in full
Cleaning (2022/2023)£208.32£208.32Allowed in full

Key passages (verbatim)

“we agree with the applicant that in some respects the grounds maintenance was not up to scratch... grounds maintenance charges should be reduced by 10% per annum”
On gardening & grounds
“grounds maintenance charges should be reduced by 10% per annum. The amount recoverable ... (b) in 2021/22 becomes £67.51”
On gardening & grounds
“grounds maintenance charges should be reduced by 10% per annum. The amount recoverable ... (c) in 2022/2023 becomes £56.12”
On gardening & grounds
“The applicant objects to paying the minute increases for the latter two service charge years. There is no merit in this objection. The amounts claimed can be recovered.”
On management fees
“The applicant objects to paying the minute increases for the latter two service charge years. There is no merit in this objection.”
On management fees
“We do not consider the applicant's evidence comes anywhere near showing a deficiency in the caretaking services provided. The amounts claimed can be recovered.”
On staffing & concierge
“Unfortunately, the applicant failed to serve a Scott Schedule, in breach of the Directions. This is by far the most important document in a service charge case. Its absence makes it very hard to conduct a hearing in a focused and manageable way.”
Of Applicant
“Whilst in no way giving misleading evidence, we feel he was rather too complacent in relying upon data generated by the respondent itself.”
Of (Energy Operations Manager, respondent's witness)

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.