LON/00AP/LSC/2022/0347 — service charge decision
In LON/00AP/LSC/2022/0347, decided 22 November 2023, the First-tier Tribunal considered 3 disputed service charge items at 21 Cromberdale Court, Spencer Road, Tottenham, London N17 9UX and reached a mixed result: 3 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 21 Cromberdale Court, Spencer Road, Tottenham, London N17 9UX
Decision date: 22 November 2023
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: PBM Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2016-2022) | £6,047.04 | £5,529.56 | Reduced | Section 20B 18-month time limit, Other grounds |
| Legal & professional costs (2016-2022) | £348 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2016-2018) | £164.58 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Section 20B 18-month time limit |
Section 20C order: refused.
Key passages (verbatim)
“From the sum of £6,042.14 correctly demanded is deducted the disallowed legal charges of £348 and the £164.58 service charge advised 18 months or more after the expenditure was incurred. The total sum payable by the Applicant is £5529.56”
“The Tribunal is not provided with evidence that these legal costs were solely to satisfy the costs of a s.146 Order to repossess the flat following failure to pay service charges.”
“A sum of £164.58 was incurred more than 18 months from the service of the 8 July 2018 demand. This amount is deducted from the sum payable.”
“The Tribunal is not provided with evidence that these legal costs were solely to satisfy the costs of a s.146 Order to repossess the flat following failure to pay service charges.”
“The Upper Tribunal guidance on such administrative costs is that the intention to repossess a property due to failure to satisfy lease covenants must be clearly stated in any correspondence with the tenant. This was not done and as a result the Tribunal does not allow these costs.”
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.