LON/00AU/LSC/2021/0091 — service charge decision
In LON/00AU/LSC/2021/0091, decided 14 December 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 23 disputed service charge items at 396 St John Street, London, EC1V 4NJ and reached a mixed result: 2 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 396 St John Street, London, EC1V 4NJ
Decision date: 14 December 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Hurford Salvi Carr Property Management Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2018) | £3,059.75 | £3,059.75 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2018) | £276.90 | £276.90 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018) | £184.60 | £184.60 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018) | £500 | £46.15 | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Repairs & maintenance (2018) | £461.50 | £461.50 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2018) | £1,509.20 | £1,509.20 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2018) | £215.60 | £215.60 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018) | £326.10 | £326.10 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2018) | £31.42 | £31.42 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2018) | £107.80 | £107.80 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2018) | £53.90 | £53.90 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019) | £3,867.74 | £3,867.74 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019) | £267.78 | £267.78 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £3,587.52 | £3,587.52 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £248.37 | £248.37 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £276.90 | £276.90 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £323.40 | £323.40 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2021) | £191.98 | £191.98 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2021) | £1,015.30 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2021) | £1,800 | £1,800 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £369.20 | £369.20 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £862.40 | £862.40 | Allowed in full | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2021) | £9,008 | £9,008 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: partial.
Key passages (verbatim)
“the Tribunal finds that these fees are reasonable and payable”
“the Tribunal was of the view that the service charges were reasonable and payable”
“the Tribunal was of the view that the service charges were reasonable and payable”
“the total charge was reasonable and payable but this then should be apportioned as in other years on the basis of 9.23% payable by the subject property, making the sum payable £46.15”
“the Tribunal was of the view that the service charges were reasonable and payable”
“the Tribunal accepted that there was no requirement on the landlord to find the cheapest quote and that a market test was made”
“it was apparent to the Tribunal that there had been a history of poor accounting and indeed the representative for the respondent confirmed that once employed the company had to clear up a "mess" in regard to the accounts and the service charges.”
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.