LON/00AP/LSC/2022/0312 — service charge decision
In LON/00AP/LSC/2022/0312, decided 24 October 2023, the First-tier Tribunal considered 21 disputed service charge items at Connaught House, Connaught Gardens, London, N10 3LH and reached a mixed result: 10 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Connaught House, Connaught Gardens, London, N10 3LH
Decision date: 24 October 2023
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Eagerstates Ltd.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities (2020/21) | £1,422.54 | £1,422.54 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2020/21) | £5,208 | £2,604 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Gardening & grounds (2020/21) | £2,118 | £693 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Lifts (2020/21) | £3,323.35 | £3,323.35 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2020/21) | £330 | £330 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020/21) | £1,140 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Lifts (2020/21) | £232.41 | £128.73 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020/21) | £3,795.72 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020/21) | £468 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2020/21) | £1,892.52 | £472.80 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2020/21) | £19.20 | £19.20 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020/21) | £4,680 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Major works (2020/21) | £10,336.80 | £10,336.80 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020/21) | £1,344.38 | £1,344.38 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020/21) | £-1,764.80 | £-1,764.80 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020/21) | £250 | £250 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020/21) | £-5,473.68 | £-5,473.68 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020/21) | £84 | £84 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2020/21) | £720 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2020/21) | £312 | £312 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020/21) | £3,250 | £2,208.30 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“£1 422.54 chargeable”
“We therefore determine that the service charge amount for cleaning services is £2 604.00”
“for three an a half months (24th March 2020 to 10th July 2020) this would amount to a charge of £693.00. We find that this is a reasonable amount for the provision of gardening services.”
“£3 323.35 chargeable.”
“Window Cleaning £330.00 Not material, in line with budget. No queries. £330.00 chargeable”
“The tribunal finds that there is no evidence of this work taking place. This work is not mentioned in the list of expenses and additionally Mr Wiles on behalf of the tenants told the tribunal in his submissions that the tenants were not aware of any guttering work.”
“the Respondent has not complied with Directions made in this case, in particular to prepare a hearing bundle, and has not provided an explanation as to why Directions have not been followed.”
“the tribunal notes the emails that are contained within the bundle which show that the Applicants had to chase the Respondent for relevant information for the RTM.”
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.