LON/00AY/LSC/2024/0166 — service charge decision
In LON/00AY/LSC/2024/0166, decided 26 November 2024, the First-tier Tribunal considered 12 disputed service charge items at Ground Floor Flat, 54a Morrish Road, Brixton, SW2 4EG and found largely for the leaseholder: 12 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Ground Floor Flat, 54a Morrish Road, Brixton, SW2 4EG
Decision date: 26 November 2024
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2021/2022) | £600 | £107 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022/2023) | £800 | £64 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023/2024) | £800 | £64 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024/2025) | £800 | £64 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2021/2022) | — | £223 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2022/2023) | — | £223 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2023/2024) | — | £223 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2024/2025) | — | £223 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2021/2022) | £300 | £49.45 | Reduced | Not payable under the lease, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Management fees (2022/2023) | £300 | £44.45 | Reduced | Not payable under the lease, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Management fees (2023/2024) | £300 | £44.45 | Reduced | Not payable under the lease, Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Management fees (2024/2025) | £300 | £44.45 | Reduced | Not payable under the lease, Fee excessive for service delivered |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“She submits that the following would be reasonable sums to pay for the work shown on the invoices disclosed by the Respondent. (i) £107 for 2021/2022”
“She submits that the following would be reasonable sums to pay... (ii) £64 for 2022/2023”
“She submits that the following would be reasonable sums to pay... (iii) £64 for the 2023/2024”
“She submits that the following would be reasonable sums to pay... (iv) £64 (estimated) for the year 2024/2025”
“she has never been supplied with any invoices or any documentation in relation to insurance... her share of the reasonable insurance costs would be £223 per year”
“we summarily assess the recoverable charge for insurance as £223 for each year in dispute”
“Clearly the breaches are serious and significant; there was a wholesale failure on the part of the Respondent to set out his case and to disclose relevant documents as ordered.”
“Mr Karim maintained that it was in part due to his ill health but no medical evidence was put before the tribunal or disclosed to the Applicant in support of this. Oversight is not a good reason.”
“we shared Ms Miller's scepticism as to whether there would be compliance with any further directions”
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.