LON/00AM/LSC/2024/0246 — service charge decision
In LON/00AM/LSC/2024/0246, decided 25 November 2024, the First-tier Tribunal considered 8 disputed service charge items at 73b Chatsworth Road, London, E5 0LH and reached a mixed result: 2 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 73b Chatsworth Road, London, E5 0LH
Decision date: 25 November 2024
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Effective Management.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2021) | £547.46 | £547.52 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2021) | £54.75 | £54.75 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2022) | £624.35 | £624.41 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2022) | £62.45 | £62.44 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2023) | £904.80 | £904.88 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | £62.80 | £58.80 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2023) | £90.48 | £96.37 | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2022) | £2,020 | £2,010 | Reduced | No Section 20 consultation |
Section 20C order: partial.
Key passages (verbatim)
“the insurance policy was validly in place. The Tribunal therefore finds that the charge for insurance was reasonable.”
“A management fee is therefore chargeable under the Lease. The fee is only applied to the insurance charge and clearly work has been done to put the insurance policy in place. The Tribunal used its expert knowledge (that management fees are often charged on the basis of work at between 7-12%) and finds that 10% is a reasonable amount.”
“For the same reasons as set out in relation to 2021, the Tribunal finds that this sum is due under the Lease and is reasonable.”
“For the same reasons as set out in relation to 2021, the Tribunal finds that this sum is due under the Lease and is reasonable.”
“For the same reasons as set out in relation to 2021, the Tribunal finds that this sum is due under the Lease and is reasonable.”
“The only invoice in the bundle is for £176.40 (p.194, of which, the Respondent's share would be £58.80. The Tribunal finds this due and chargeable under the Lease, and reasonable in amount.”
“The Tribunal notes the unhelpful attitude of the Applicant towards requests for documents from the Applicant – the Respondent had written to the Applicant on 28 April 2022 (p.255) and 27 February 2023 (p.260) and 14 September 2023 (p.400) but the Applicant did not engage.”
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.