LON/00BJ/OCE/2019/0160 & others — service charge decision
In LON/00BJ/OCE/2019/0160 & others, decided 2 November 2021, the First-tier Tribunal considered 20 disputed service charge items at 47 Longley Road, Tooting, London, SW17 9LA and reached a mixed result: 16 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 47 Longley Road, Tooting, London, SW17 9LA
Decision date: 2 November 2021
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: SE1 Limited (formerly Hampton Wick Estates Limited).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings insurance (2012) | £3,745.60 | £3,375 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested |
| Buildings insurance (2013) | £3,832.77 | £3,375 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested |
| Buildings insurance (2014) | £4,077.19 | £3,375 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested |
| Buildings insurance (2015) | £4,372.57 | £3,375 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested |
| Buildings insurance (2016) | £4,521.38 | £3,375 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested |
| Buildings insurance (2017) | £4,800.45 | £3,375 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested |
| Buildings insurance (2018) | £4,991.11 | £3,375 | Reduced | Insurance not market tested |
| Buildings insurance (2019) | £3,383.11 | £3,383.11 | Allowed in full | — |
| Management fees (2012) | £315 | £175 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2013) | £315 | £175 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2014) | £315 | £175 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2015) | £315 | £175 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2016) | £350 | £175 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2017) | £350 | £150 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2018) | £350 | £150 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2019) | £350 | £150 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Management fees (2020) | — | £150 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Poor standard of work |
| Repairs & maintenance (2012) | £144 | £144 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2013) | £678 | £678 | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2014) | £185 | £185 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: partial.
Key passages (verbatim)
“we cap the premiums for the previous years 2012 to 2018 at this level”
“we cap the premiums for the previous years 2012 to 2018 at this level”
“we cap the premiums for the previous years 2012 to 2018 at this level”
“we cap the premiums for the previous years 2012 to 2018 at this level”
“we cap the premiums for the previous years 2012 to 2018 at this level”
“we cap the premiums for the previous years 2012 to 2018 at this level”
“This is an expert tribunal and consider the insurance premiums to be high for a property of this nature.”
“The Property is in a state of substantial disrepair. In 2009, the FTT determined that Mr Bassey's contribution towards the management charge should be capped to £100 per annum. This reflected two factors: (i) the poor condition of the property and the common parts; and (ii) the poor state of the paperwork in connection with the property.”
“The current situation is extremely unfortunate.”
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.