LON/00BE/LSC/2020/0163 & others — service charge decision
In LON/00BE/LSC/2020/0163 & others, decided 4 May 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 5 disputed service charge items at Flat 4 and Flat 6, Regal Row, London SE15 2NH and found largely for the leaseholder: 5 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 4 and Flat 6, Regal Row, London SE15 2NH
Decision date: 4 May 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Regal Row Limited (Managing Agent).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2018) | £590.39 | — | Disallowed entirely | Demand formally invalid |
| Other charges (2019) | £3,723.95 | — | Disallowed entirely | Demand formally invalid |
| Other charges (2020) | £4,489.81 | — | Disallowed entirely | Demand formally invalid, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2019) | £7,133.67 | — | Disallowed entirely | Demand formally invalid |
| Other charges (2020) | £4,489.81 | — | Disallowed entirely | Demand formally invalid, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“the tribunal is not satisfied that demands for payments have been sent to the correct lessees of Flats 4 and Flat 6”
“the tribunal is not satisfied that demands for payments have been sent to the correct lessees of Flats 4 and Flat 6”
“the 2020 service charge is based on estimated costs as no certified accounts have been provided to the lessees. Therefore, the tribunal finds that the 'annual contribution' demanded for 2020 is not yet payable.”
“the demands for payment of the service charges for the service charge years 2019 and 2020 were addressed to Mr Zenaleh (Zela) Gheremedhin and not to Mrs Zelalam Gheremedhin and Mr Arefaine Gherezghier Gheremedhin as named by the applicant”
“the 2020 service charge is based on estimated costs as no certified accounts have been provided to the lessees”
“The tribunal is unclear as to who is the lessee of Flat 4 as Claim No. G4QZ672Q has been issued against Mr Zenelah Gheremedhin only as the defendant and not Mrs Gheremedhin as the lessee.”
“neither the applicant nor the respondents, either before or during the hearing, addressed this discrepancy and the parties appeared to proceed at the hearing on the basis that Mrs Gheremedhim was the lessee of Flat 4 and the joint lessee of Flat 6.”
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.