MAN/00CM/LSC/2022/0020 — service charge decision
In MAN/00CM/LSC/2022/0020, decided 25 March 2024, the First-tier Tribunal considered 8 disputed service charge items at Apartment 52 River Quarter, Lambton Street, Sunderland, SR1 1TP and reached a mixed result: 3 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Apartment 52 River Quarter, Lambton Street, Sunderland, SR1 1TP
Decision date: 25 March 2024
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staffing & concierge (2018) | £335.64 | £335.64 | Allowed in full | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2019) | £471.45 | £471.45 | Allowed in full | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2020) | £485.58 | £485.58 | Allowed in full | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2021) | £533.03 | £533.03 | Allowed in full | — |
| Staffing & concierge (2022) | £341.48 | £341.48 | Allowed in full | — |
| Utilities (2021) | £296.11 | £236.89 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Utilities (2022) | £347.15 | £277.72 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Administration charges | — | — | Disallowed entirely | — |
Key passages (verbatim)
“We determined that the sums set out in paragraph 23 were reasonably incurred and reasonable in amount.”
“We determined that the sums set out in paragraph 23 were reasonably incurred and reasonable in amount.”
“We determined that the sums set out in paragraph 23 were reasonably incurred and reasonable in amount.”
“We determined that the sums set out in paragraph 23 were reasonably incurred and reasonable in amount.”
“the correct sum for that year should be £341.48”
“We found the sums charged to the Applicant in 2021 and 2022 were unreasonable. In consequence was determined there should be a reduction of each sum by 20%, i.e. the charges deemed to be reasonable for the Respondent to charge to the Applicant are £236.89 for 2021 and £277.72 for 2022.”
“The Tribunal found that it had not sought to obtain price comparisons and had not challenged designation of the whole building as 'commercial' for supplier charges.”
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.