LON/00BK/LSC/2024/0125 & others — service charge decision
In LON/00BK/LSC/2024/0125 & others, decided 14 April 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 31 disputed service charge items at Flat 17, 70-72 Westbourne Terrace, W2 6QA and reached a mixed result: 12 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Flat 17, 70-72 Westbourne Terrace, W2 6QA
Decision date: 14 April 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Paul Anthony Cleaver (Tribunal-appointed manager).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs & maintenance (2021-22) | £5,023 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2021-22) | £3,120 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021-22) | £270 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021-22) | £1,008 | £500 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2021-22) | £20,716.93 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2021-22) | £10,640 | £9,120 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Legal & professional costs (2021-22) | £3,618 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2021-22) | £11,671.34 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2021-22) | £237.26 | £0 | conceded | — |
| Major works (2021-22) | £47,495.14 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022-23) | £5,711.30 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Cleaning (2022-23) | £6,416 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022-23) | £3,277.50 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022-23) | £1,008 | £500 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2022-23) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2022-23) | £9,570 | £9,120 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2022-23) | £11,402.96 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Major works (2022-23) | £48,279.60 | £47,888.60 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023-24) | £1,644 | £876 | Reduced | Not payable under the lease |
| Other charges (2023-24) | £1,200 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023-24) | £462 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2023-24) | £636 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023-24) | £4,176.72 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2023-24) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2023-24) | £10,290 | £9,120 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2023-24) | £17,268.78 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024-25) | £1,500 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Repairs & maintenance (2024-25) | £6,000 | — | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2024-25) | — | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Management fees (2024-25) | £11,060 | £9,120 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Not payable under the lease |
| Buildings insurance (2024-25) | £19,305 | — | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: refused.
Key passages (verbatim)
“In our judgment the reference to 'service road' is sufficient to encompass the side of the road where we find the cap and pier to have been. We disallow nothing in respect of this.”
“This item was agreed at the £3,120 claimed.”
“The tenant consequently agreed the £270 claimed.”
“In our judgment, where there is no rubbish available for rodents, there is not a need for four pest control visits a year. In our judgment, a figure of £500 should be allowed under this head in each service charge year.”
“In our judgment for both these reasons, the tenant is not obliged to contribute to the cost of gas. We disallow this head.”
“In 2021-22, the management fees claimed total £10,640, a potential overcharge of £1,520... We disallow the three overcharges in the total sum of £2,908.”
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.