LON/00AY/LSC/2025/0922 — service charge decision
In LON/00AY/LSC/2025/0922, decided 22 January 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 13 disputed service charge items at Flat 4, 38 Oakdale Road, London SW16 2HL and reached a mixed result: 1 item was reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 4, 38 Oakdale Road, London SW16 2HL
Decision date: 22 January 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening & grounds (2023) | £340.16 | £340.16 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2023) | — | £14.25 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2023) | — | £36.06 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2023) | — | £48.08 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2024) | £1,040 | £1,040.89 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2025) | £132.22 | £132.22 | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2024) | £7,694 | £1,849.63 | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2024) | £8,630 | £2,074.65 | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2024) | £15,175 | £3,648.07 | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2024) | £10,045 | £2,414.82 | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2025) | £6,410 | £1,540.96 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024) | £1,800 | £432.72 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2024) | £1,626.86 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Other grounds |
Key passages (verbatim)
“The tribunal determines that the amounts charged to Flat 4 in relation to gardening costs for 2023 are payable and reasonable.”
“The tribunal determines that the sum payable by Flat 4 in respect of the maintenance costs is £14.25 being 24.04% of £60.”
“The tribunal determines that the sum payable by Flat 4 in respect of the admin costs is £36.06, being 24.04% of £150.”
“The tribunal determines that the sum payable by Flat 4 in respect of the Accountant Fees is £48.08, being 24.04% of £200.”
“The tribunal determines that the amount payable for Flat 4 in respect of the insurance for 2024 is £1,040.89, being 24.04% of the insurance sum of £4,329.86.”
“The Respondent is keen to see evidence of payments but has agreed that the sum budgeted is reasonable. The tribunal agrees.”
“It is unfortunate that, at the time of the Surrender and Regrant of the lease, the opportunity was not taken to formalise the shares.”
“In the future it would be better practice to formalise this arrangement with the preparation of invoices.”
“It is good practice for all service charge expenditure to be evidenced by way of receipted invoices.”
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.