LON/00AZ/LSC/2020/0329 — service charge decision
In LON/00AZ/LSC/2020/0329, decided 28 May 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 27 disputed service charge items at Flats A, B and C, 195 Sandhurst Road, London SE6 1NF and reached a mixed result: 17 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flats A, B and C, 195 Sandhurst Road, London SE6 1NF
Decision date: 28 May 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2017) | £200 | £200 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2017) | £1,229.69 | £1,000 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Other charges (2017) | £175 | £175 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2017) | £800 | £750 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Other charges (2018) | £225 | £225 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2018) | £1,321.92 | £1,075 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Other charges (2018) | £175 | £175 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2018) | £800 | £750 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Other charges (2018) | £15 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Duplication of charges |
| Cleaning (2018) | £135 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Major works (2018) | £5,000 | £5,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2018) | £5,750.02 | £5,750 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019) | £225 | £225 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2019) | £1,342.77 | £1,092.20 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2019) | £135 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Other charges (2019) | £7.50 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Duplication of charges, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £621.96 | £506.20 | Reduced | Poor standard of work |
| Other charges (2019) | £175 | £175 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2019) | £1,200 | £360 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2019) | £835 | £783 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Other charges (2020) | £250 | £250 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020) | £1,310.47 | £1,092.20 | Reduced | Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Other charges (2020) | £175 | £175 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020) | £835 | £808 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered |
| Cleaning (2020) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Other charges (2020) | £90 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Administration charges (2017) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The Tribunal was, therefore, satisfied that this item was reasonable and payable by the Applicants in accordance with their respective lease shares.”
“the nature and location of the property, a considerable distance out of Central London in a largely residential area is such that it is not reasonable to include terrorism cover in the insurance.”
“the sum of £175 for health and safety measures is reasonable and payable by the Applicants in their respective shares.”
“there was definitely some evidence of poor service on their part... the management of the property was certainly not as good as it could have been and that, therefore, some reduction in the charge made is warranted.”
“there was no realistic challenge to the sum of £225 for accountancy and the Tribunal is satisfied that this sum is reasonable and payable.”
“The Tribunal considers that this was a reasonable increase and that it is appropriate to increase the sum that it had itself considered to be reasonable the previous year by the same amount.”
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.