LON/00BE/LSC/2022/0022 — service charge decision
In LON/00BE/LSC/2022/0022, decided 15 February 2023, the First-tier Tribunal considered 27 disputed service charge items at 27 St Saviours Wharf and Car Park, Mill Street, London SE1 2BE and reached a mixed result: 4 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 27 St Saviours Wharf and Car Park, Mill Street, London SE1 2BE
Decision date: 15 February 2023
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Rendall & Rittner.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2020) | £540 | £540 | Allowed in full | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2020) | £26,109 | £26,109 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £2,000 | £2,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £2,133 | £2,133 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £3,302 | £3,302 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2020) | £13,748 | £13,748 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £277 | £277 | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2020) | £1,024 | £1,024 | Allowed in full | — |
| Lifts (2020) | £4,319 | £4,319 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £6,387 | £6,387 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £648 | £648 | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2020) | £2,926 | £2,926 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £19,753 | £16,558 | Reduced | Undisclosed insurance commission, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2020) | £198 | £198 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £2,699 | £2,699 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £750 | £750 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £24,081 | £24,081 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2020) | £10,636 | £10,636 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2020) | £13,000 | £13,000 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020) | £43,291 | £43,291 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2020) | £2,323 | £2,323 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020) | £29,105 | £29,105 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £636 | £636 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2020) | £23,760 | £17,820 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Legal & professional costs (2020) | £240 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Other grounds |
| Reserve fund contributions (2020) | £196,024 | £196,024 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2020) | £18 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
Key passages (verbatim)
“This sum is payable for maintenance and of the essential ventilation provided to the common areas as part of the fire safety requirements.”
“The Applicants explained the porter is provided 5 days per week from 8.00am until 6.00pm. The costs of provision of a flat is also included in this sum.”
“The car park maintenance is shared between St Saviours Wharf and an adjacent property. There are 28 spaces in the car park.”
“These costs are also shared with the adjacent property and include repairs and maintenance to the car park areas.”
“The Applicants explained that the CCTV and access control systems include the commercial units and car park.”
“A cleaner visit daily to the premises to clean all common areas. The contract for cleaning is competitively tendered every 2-3 years.”
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.