LON/00BG/LSC/2021/0419 — service charge decision
In LON/00BG/LSC/2021/0419, decided 31 May 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 32 disputed service charge items at Fathom Court - The Premises known as The Old Kings Arms extending to Stepney Causeway E1 0JW and Cable Street E1W 3ER and reached a mixed result: 21 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Fathom Court - The Premises known as The Old Kings Arms extending to Stepney Causeway E1 0JW and Cable Street E1W 3ER
Decision date: 31 May 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2018) | £200 | £200 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019) | £600 | £200 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2020) | £306 | £200 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2018) | £100 | £100 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019) | £100 | £100 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £100 | £100 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2018) | £10 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2018) | £266 | £266 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019) | £400 | £400 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2020) | £400 | £400 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2018) | £112 | £112 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2019) | £148 | £148 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2020) | £64 | £64 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2018) | £4,802 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Works not necessary |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £315 | £315 | conceded | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2019) | £100 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2020) | £610 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2018) | £595 | £1 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Other grounds |
| Utilities (2019) | £544 | £1 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Other grounds |
| Utilities (2020) | £857 | £1 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Other grounds |
| Other charges (2018) | £681 | £336 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Other grounds |
| Other charges (2019) | £231 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Other grounds |
| Other charges (2020) | £854 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Other grounds |
| Other charges (2020) | £48 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Other grounds |
| Cleaning (2018) | £156 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Other grounds |
| Cleaning (2019) | £156 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Other grounds |
| Utilities (2020) | £264 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Other grounds |
| Other charges (2020) | £370 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2018) | £1,667 | — | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Apportionment error |
| Management fees (2019) | £3,120 | — | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Management fees (2020) | £1,717 | — | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Apportionment error |
| Other charges (2019) | £90 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
Key passages (verbatim)
“The accountancy fees of £200 in 2018 were reasonable and payable.”
“The fees for 2019 and 2020 are reduced to £200 for each year.”
“The invoice in the bundle for 2020 was in the sum of £200, no explanation was provided for the higher figure claimed.”
“The accountancy certification fees of £100 per year are payable.”
“The accountancy certification fees of £100 per year are payable.”
“The accountancy certification fees of £100 per year are payable.”
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.