LON/00AL/LSC/2019/0424 — service charge decision
In LON/00AL/LSC/2019/0424, decided 14 December 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 5 disputed service charge items at 43 Erebus Drive, London SE28 0GB and found largely for the landlord: 0 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 43 Erebus Drive, London SE28 0GB
Decision date: 14 December 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Firstport.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2017-18) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018-19) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2018-19) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2017-18) | £60 | £60 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2018-19) | £60 | £60 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: refused.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The amount that the Tribunal had to adjudicate on was £4,932.04, made up of the balance of unpaid service charges for the years 2017-18 and 2018-19 and two administration charges of £60 each incurred by the Applicant's agents in chasing the Respondent for her service charge arrears.”
“For these reasons, the Tribunal has rejected the objections set out in the Respondent's statement of case and determined that the claimed service charges are and always were payable.”
“A reserve fund contribution is reasonable if it is based on plans for long-term projects which are themselves reasonable. Ms Edmonds pointed to the accounts which showed that the reserve fund for the Respondent's block was running low.”
“It is entirely understandable that the Applicant's agents would have chased her for payment of her arrears and incurred costs in doing so. Therefore, the two administration charges of £60 are also reasonable and payable.”
“It is entirely understandable that the Applicant's agents would have chased her for payment of her arrears and incurred costs in doing so. Therefore, the two administration charges of £60 are also reasonable and payable.”
“The Respondent did not attempt to file or serve her bundle of documents, including her statement of case, until Thursday 8th December 2022, one clear working day before the hearing listed for Monday 12th December 2022. The Applicant did not receive the bundle until Friday 9th December 2022. The Respondent did not apologise or seek either a further extension of the time limit or permission to rely on the bundle.”
“The Respondent has not put forward a credible case and has been in flagrant breach of the Tribunal's directions.”
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.