LON/00BG/LSC/2021/0135 — service charge decision
In LON/00BG/LSC/2021/0135, decided 23 August 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 4 disputed service charge items at Flat 1 Newton Court, 1 Axio Way, London, E3 4QW and found largely for the landlord: 1 item was reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 1 Newton Court, 1 Axio Way, London, E3 4QW
Decision date: 23 August 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Inspired Property Management (IPM).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2019-20) | £1,055.73 | £1,055.73 | Allowed in full | — |
| Administration charges (2019-20) | £303 | £303 | Allowed in full | — |
| Ground-rent-adjacent charges (2016/2017/2019) | £750 | £750 | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2019-20) | £9,693.72 | £3,221.24 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Other grounds |
Key passages (verbatim)
“The Tribunal is satisfied that these sums are payable and that they were not claimed in the previous proceedings.”
“The Tribunal is satisfied that these administration charges are payable and reasonable.”
“DJ Latham is satisfied that these sums are payable.”
“Having regard to all these factors, Judge Latham assesses costs in the sum of £3,231.24 (including VAT), a reduction of 67%.”
“None of these accounts provide an accurate description of how the judgment debt of £4,914.39 was computed.”
“This is a matter which should have been resolved by the managing agents without the involvement of lawyers, had the basis of the claim had been explained to the Respondent in simple terms.”
“Once lawyers were involved, the basis of the claim should have been more clearly explained both in the pre-action letter, dated 5 December 2019 (at p.272) and in the Claim Form (at p.1). The basis of the claim only became apparent at the CMH.”
“The transfer of the accounts between Brunsfield and IPM was far from satisfactory.”
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.