LON/00AP/LSC/2023/0477 — service charge decision
In LON/00AP/LSC/2023/0477, decided 25 November 2024, the First-tier Tribunal considered 11 disputed service charge items at 629A Green Lanes, London, N8 0RE and reached a mixed result: 8 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 629A Green Lanes, London, N8 0RE
Decision date: 25 November 2024
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2020) | £222.22 | £222.22 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020) | £120 | £90 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Buildings insurance (2021) | £236.12 | £236.12 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £14 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2021) | £160 | £120 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Buildings insurance (2022) | £304.85 | £252.21 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £19 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2022) | £160 | £120 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Buildings insurance (2023) | £304.85 | £304.85 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | £27 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2023) | £160 | £120 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
Section 20C order: partial.
Key passages (verbatim)
“Insurance - £1,111.10, of which the Applicant's share is £222.22... Under the terms of the Lease, the Respondent is obliged to insure the Property and the charge is valid and reasonable.”
“The Tribunal takes all these matters into account, and finds that a reasonable management fee is £90 (i.e. a reduction of 25%).”
“Insurance - £1,181.56, of which the Applicant's share is £236.12... the Tribunal finds this charge valid and reasonable.”
“Whilst this is something which would fall under the provisions of the Lease, as there is no invoice in relation to this, the Tribunal finds that this is not a reasonable charge.”
“For the reasons set out in relation to 2020, the Tribunal finds that it is reasonable to reduce the charge by 25% - the reasonable charge is therefore £120.”
“The invoice is for £1,261.06, not for £1,524.25. The Tribunal finds this charge valid but in terms of reasonableness, the Tribunal finds that the figure on the invoice is reasonable, i.e. £1,261.06, of which the Applicant's share is £252.21.”
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.