LON/00BB/LSC/2026/0104 — service charge decision
In LON/00BB/LSC/2026/0104, decided 10 September 2026, the First-tier Tribunal considered 12 disputed service charge items at Holly House, 152 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, London E7 9FB and reached a mixed result: 2 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Holly House, 152 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, London E7 9FB
Decision date: 10 September 2026
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Encore Estate Management Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2024/25) | £6,908 | £6,908 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2025/26) | £7,000 | £7,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2024/25) | £5,550 | £5,550 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2025/26) | £6,552 | £6,552 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2025/26) | £1,989 | £1,989 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2025/26) | £13,800 | £13,800 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2024/25) | £7,499 | £7,499 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2025/26) | £16,291 | £16,291 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2024/25) | £7,798 | £3,899 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Other grounds |
| Management fees (2025/26) | £11,534 | £5,767.47 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Other grounds |
| Reserve fund contributions (2024/25) | £13,765 | £13,765 | Allowed in full | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2025/26) | £20,800 | £20,800 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The Tribunal determines that the service charges demanded in the years 2024/25 (actual) and 2025/26 (budgeted) for general maintenance are payable and reasonable.”
“The Tribunal determines that the service charges demanded in the years 2024/25 (actual) and 2025/26 (budgeted) for general maintenance are payable and reasonable.”
“The Tribunal determines that the amounts demanded for cleaning in the years 2024/25 (actual) and 2025/26 (budgeted) are payable and reasonable.”
“The Tribunal determines that the amounts demanded for cleaning in the years 2024/25 (actual) and 2025/26 (budgeted) are payable and reasonable.”
“The Tribunal determines that the amount demanded for solar maintenance in the year 2025/26 (budgeted) is payable and reasonable.”
“The Tribunal determines that the amount demanded for fire equipment in the year 2025/26 (budgeted) is payable and reasonable.”
“The Tribunal agrees with the Applicants that the breakdown and calculations for the electricity cost should have been better presented in the accounts.”
“The Tribunal notes that it would have been helpful to have in the bundle a full breakdown of how the leaseholder contribution percentage in the Annual Budget was calculated, but nevertheless accepts Mr Clarke's oral evidence on this point.”
“Mr Fuller conceded that the material in the bundle demonstrated that the standard of communication could have been better.”
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.