MAN/00CX/LSC/2021/0077 — service charge decision
In MAN/00CX/LSC/2021/0077, decided 8 April 2024, the First-tier Tribunal considered 12 disputed service charge items at Apartment 145 The Gatehaus, Leeds Road, Bradford BD1 5BQ and reached a mixed result: 6 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: Apartment 145 The Gatehaus, Leeds Road, Bradford BD1 5BQ
Decision date: 8 April 2024
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: Rendall and Rittner (formerly Braemar).
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staffing & concierge (2018-2022) | — | — | Allowed in full | Leaseholder evidence insufficient |
| Cleaning (2018-2022) | — | — | Allowed in full | Leaseholder evidence insufficient |
| Other charges (2018-2022) | — | — | Allowed in full | Leaseholder evidence insufficient |
| Other charges (2018-2022) | — | — | Allowed in full | Leaseholder evidence insufficient |
| Lifts (2018-2022) | — | — | Allowed in full | Leaseholder evidence insufficient |
| Repairs & maintenance (2018-2022) | — | — | Allowed in full | Leaseholder evidence insufficient |
| Buildings insurance (2018-2022) | — | — | Disallowed entirely | Not payable under the lease |
| Management fees (2018) | — | £250 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Other grounds |
| Management fees (2019) | — | £250 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, No Section 20 consultation |
| Management fees (2020) | — | £275 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Management fees (2021) | — | £275 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Management fees (2022) | — | £275 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
Section 20C order: refused.
Key passages (verbatim)
“No detail was provided as to these objections other than generic concerns about the state of the building, vandalism etc.”
“No detail was provided as to these objections other than generic concerns about the state of the building, vandalism etc.”
“No detail was provided as to these objections other than generic concerns about the state of the building, vandalism etc.”
“There was insufficient direct evidence to find other than that the service charges on the whole – with the exception of the management charges - are reasonable, and payable.”
“There was insufficient direct evidence to find other than that the service charges on the whole – with the exception of the management charges - are reasonable, and payable.”
“general repairs are reactive but have only been charged for as carried out”
“ABM had found it very difficult to get information from Rendall and Rittner, describing it as like "pulling teeth".”
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.