LON/00AS/LSC/2020/0089 — service charge decision
In LON/00AS/LSC/2020/0089, decided 20 April 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 32 disputed service charge items at Breakspear House, Breakspear Road North, Harefield UB9 6NA and reached a mixed result: 21 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Breakspear House, Breakspear Road North, Harefield UB9 6NA
Decision date: 20 April 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Leete Estate Management.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2014-15) | £510 | £510 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2014-15) | £340 | £340 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2014-15) | £6,430.50 | £3,215.25 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2014-15) | £4,287 | £2,143.50 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2015-16) | £510 | £510 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2015-16) | £600 | £600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2015-16) | £6,000 | £3,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2015-16) | £4,000 | £2,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Administration charges (2015-16) | £181 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Other charges (2016-17) | £600 | £600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2016-17) | £600 | £600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2016-17) | £6,000 | £3,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2016-17) | £6,000 | £2,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Administration charges (2016-17) | £176 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Buildings insurance (2016-17) | £582.47 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Gardening & grounds (2016-17) | £1,860 | £930 | Reduced | Poor standard of work, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2016-17) | £6,319 | £2,250 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Historic neglect |
| Other charges (2017-18) | £600 | £600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2017-18) | £600 | £600 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2017-18) | £6,000 | £3,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2017-18) | £4,000 | £2,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Administration charges (2017-18) | £194 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Buildings insurance (2017-18) | £490.77 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Gardening & grounds (2017-18) | £702 | £0 | conceded | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2017-18) | £2,860 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Poor standard of work |
| Repairs & maintenance (2017-18) | £2,664 | £348 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2018-19) | £570 | £570 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018-19) | £570 | £570 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2018-19) | £6,000 | £3,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2018-19) | £4,000 | £2,000 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Administration charges (2018-19) | £109 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Buildings insurance (2018-19) | £496.92 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The tribunal determines that the amount payable in respect of the accounting charges is £2,880 in respect of the Estate (Grounds) and £2,710 in respect of the accounts for the House”
“Accounts Certification Fee Schedule 2 - House Payments: 2014/15 £340”
“we conclude that it would be appropriate to reduce the Management fees for both the House and the Grounds by 50%”
“we conclude that it would be appropriate to reduce the Management fees for both the House and the Grounds by 50%”
“Accounts Certification Fee Schedule 1 - Grounds Payments: 2015/16 £510”
“Accounts Certification Fee Schedule 2 - House Payments: 2015/16 £340 ... 2016/17 £600”
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.