LON/00AS/LSC/2022/0049 — service charge decision
In LON/00AS/LSC/2022/0049, decided 15 December 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 11 disputed service charge items at Flat 4, 116 Pinner Road, Northwood, HA6 1BS and reached a mixed result: 8 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 4, 116 Pinner Road, Northwood, HA6 1BS
Decision date: 15 December 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Sterling Estates Management.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reserve fund contributions (2020-21) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Management fees (2020-21) | £318.60 | £100 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2020-21) | £872.10 | £309.50 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Reserve fund contributions (2021-22) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Cleaning (2021-22) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021-22) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2021-22) | — | £150 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2021-22) | — | £900 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2021-22) | — | £150 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2021-22) | — | £150 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021-22) | £1,680.38 | £405 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Fee excessive for service delivered, Not payable under the lease |
Key passages (verbatim)
“The tribunal finds the lease makes no provision for the collection of a reserve fund and therefore disallows this charge for all periods in dispute.”
“the management fees of £318.60 demanded from the applicants for this period is excessive and unreasonable for the limited work carried out and the tribunal reduces this to £100.”
“Therefore, the tribunal finds the total due from the applicants in respect of the balancing payment is £309.50.”
“The tribunal finds the lease makes no provision for the collection of a reserve fund and therefore disallows this charge for all periods in dispute.”
“the tribunal has not provided with any invoices to support any cleaning or maintenance having been carried out for the period 25/03/2021 – 24/03/2022 and makes a discount of £144 and £150 as above.”
“the respondent has not presented any evidence to show they either carried out these services or tried to implement them, as no quotes for cleaning, maintenance works or risk assessment costs were provided to the tribunal.”
“the tribunal has not provided with any invoices to support any cleaning or maintenance having been carried out for the period 25/03/2021 – 24/03/2022 and makes a discount of £144 and £150 as above.”
“the respondent has not presented any evidence to show they either carried out these services or tried to implement them, as no quotes for cleaning, maintenance works or risk assessment costs were provided to the tribunal.”
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.