LON/00BJ/LSC/2021/0428 — service charge decision
In LON/00BJ/LSC/2021/0428, decided 26 September 2022, the First-tier Tribunal considered 11 disputed service charge items at Thurleigh Court, Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8AP and reached a mixed result: 6 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Thurleigh Court, Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8AP
Decision date: 26 September 2022
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Rendall & Rittner Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2018-19 to 2021-22) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Legal & professional costs (2018-19 to 2021-22) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2018-19 to 2021-22) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2018-19 to 2021-22) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2018-19 to 2021-22) | — | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2019) | £283.62 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Other grounds |
| Other charges (2018) | £3,288 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Other grounds |
| Other charges (2018) | £600 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2018) | £162 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2019) | £9 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Other charges (2018) | £412.51 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost, Other grounds |
Section 20C order: conditional.
Key passages (verbatim)
“the items listed to insurance and to the brokers Lockton & Co are all approved as reasonable and payable.”
“the Tribunal is satisfied that they are reasonable and payable given the circumstances of the dispute and the rates charged by the solicitor instructed.”
“the Tribunal was satisfied that the work was carried out and that therefore the charges were reasonable and payable.”
“the Tribunal determined that the works were necessary, that it was proportionate to demand the expense in advance and that the cost level was reasonable given the nature of the remedial works required.”
“the Tribunal were again satisfied as to the reasonableness of these management charges.”
“the Tribunal find this total expenditure unreasonable and is therefore disallowed in full.”
“The Tribunal were not happy with this explanation or with the expenditure that was largely unexplained and unacceptable.”
“The Tribunal were not happy with the explanation provided at the hearing or with the expenditure that was largely unexplained and unacceptable.”
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.