LON/00BF/LSC/2022/0373 — service charge decision
In LON/00BF/LSC/2022/0373, decided 5 December 2023, the First-tier Tribunal considered 40 disputed service charge items at Cheyham Park, Mickleham Gardens, Surrey and reached a mixed result: 6 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Cheyham Park, Mickleham Gardens, Surrey
Decision date: 5 December 2023
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning (2019/20) | £27,382 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2020/21) | £28,877 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2021/22) | £28,554 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2019/20) | £7,820 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2020/21) | £13,824 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Gardening & grounds (2021/22) | £13,824 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019/20) | £91,370 | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Other charges (2020/21) | £77,104 | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Other charges (2021/22) | £87,576 | — | Reduced | Apportionment error |
| Management fees (2019/20) | £32,240 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2020/21) | £33,012 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2021/22) | £33,374 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2019/20) | £3,432.86 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2020/21) | £9,076.80 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2021/22) | £3,733.97 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2019/20) | £12,762 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020/21) | £13,480 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021/22) | £13,480 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020/21) | — | — | Withdrawn | — |
| Lifts (2019/20) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Lifts (2020/21) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Lifts (2021/22) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019/20) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020/21) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021/22) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019/20) | £87.72 | — | conceded | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020/21) | £4,392.01 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021/22) | £3,734.51 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020/21) | £2,531 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021/22) | £2,145.60 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Reserve fund contributions (2020/21) | £4,768.98 | £4,146.94 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Reserve fund contributions (2021/22) | £4,174.50 | £3,630 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2020/21) | £129.84 | — | conceded | — |
| Other charges (2021/22) | — | — | conceded | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2021/22) | £10,719 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021/22) | £4,284 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021/22) | £727 | — | Withdrawn | — |
| Other charges (2021/22) | £1,088 | — | Withdrawn | — |
| Other charges (2021/22) | £412 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021/22) | £367.19 | — | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: partial.
Key passages (verbatim)
“The Tribunal is satisfied that the sum charged is reasonable for the services that have been provided. The Applicants have provided no evidence that the cleaning specified in the Specification could be provided more cheaply.”
“The Tribunal is satisfied that the sum charged is reasonable for the services that have been provided.”
“The Tribunal is satisfied that the sum charged is reasonable for the services that have been provided.”
“We are satisfied that the cost of this service is reasonable. We are not satisfied that any reduction should be made because of the quality of the service.”
“We are satisfied that the cost of this service is reasonable.”
“We are satisfied that the cost of this service is reasonable.”
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.