LON/00AZ/LSC/2021/0065 — service charge decision
In LON/00AZ/LSC/2021/0065, decided 20 September 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 8 disputed service charge items at Flat G, 149-151 Kirkdale, Sydenham, London SE26 4QJ and reached a mixed result: 3 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat G, 149-151 Kirkdale, Sydenham, London SE26 4QJ
Decision date: 20 September 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major works (2019/20) | £2,200 | £1,700 | Reduced | No Section 20 consultation, Dispensation granted conditionally, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019/20) | £1,038.60 | £648 | Reduced | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019/20) | £530 | £350 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Poor standard of work |
| Cleaning (2019/20) | £180 | £180 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2020/21) | £192.86 | £192.86 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2019/20) | £250 | £250 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020/21) | £250 | £250 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019/20) | — | — | Withdrawn | — |
Section 20C order: granted. Section 20ZA dispensation: conditional.
Key passages (verbatim)
“we grant dispensation on the basis that the cost be so limited. This amounts to the same result as if we had concluded that £1,700 was the reasonable cost for the work.”
“The charge of £1038.60 referable to repairs to the electric gate is not reasonable in amount. A charge of £648 should be substituted.”
“The charge of £530 referable to repairs to the storage unit is not reasonable in amount. A charge of £350 should be substituted.”
“the charges referable to cleaning in both years are reasonable.”
“the charges referable to cleaning in both years are reasonable.”
“On balance, we consider that the "administration charge" for management services was reasonable.”
“The Respondent frankly admitted that he was unaware of his obligations under section 20.”
“we do urge upon the Respondent that section 20 of the 1985 Act is not the only technical legal matter of which a property manager needs to be aware.”
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.