LON/00AW/LSC/2020/0185 — service charge decision
In LON/00AW/LSC/2020/0185, decided 16 December 2020, the First-tier Tribunal considered 13 disputed service charge items at Flat 116C Kings Road, London SW3 4TX and reached a mixed result: 1 item was reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 116C Kings Road, London SW3 4TX
Decision date: 16 December 2020
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Susan Metcalfe Management.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2019-2020) | £415.60 | £0 | conceded | Not payable under the lease |
| Buildings insurance (2019-2020) | £766.98 | £766.98 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2019-2020) | £200 | £200 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2019-2020) | £1,400 | £1,400 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019-2020) | £500 | £500 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019-2020) | £400 | £400 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019-2020) | £300 | £300 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2019-2020) | £576 | £576 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019-2020) | £300 | £300 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019-2020) | £240 | £240 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2019-2020) | £1,296 | £1,296 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2019-2020) | £540 | £360 | Reduced | Other grounds |
| Other charges (2019-2020) | £60 | £60 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“Rent insurance of £415.60 conceded by the respondent”
“Terrorism insurance quantum £766.98 (to be settled at year end if different)”
“The Tribunal find on balance that the total budget cost of £200, with the portion to be paid by the applicant at £66, are reasonable in this instance.”
“The Tribunal finds on the basis of the evidence that the budget estimate is reasonable and that it is claimable under Clause 3 (ii) (b) of the lease.”
“The Tribunal consider that a prudent landlord would make budgetary provision for day to day repairs to ensure maintenance of the building and determines that the estimate is reasonable and rechargeable under the lease.”
“The sum of £400 is considered a reasonable estimate and is rechargeable under the lease.”
“The Tribunal noted the deficiencies of the management agreement but we find that we are not in a position to re-write the agreement between the parties.”
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.