MAN/00DA/LSC/2023/0077 — service charge decision
In MAN/00DA/LSC/2023/0077, decided 21 May 2025, the First-tier Tribunal considered 29 disputed service charge items at 16 & 18 The Gateway, Rothwell, Leeds, LS26 0RT and reached a mixed result: 24 items were reduced or disallowed. Full decision on GOV.UK below.
Property: 16 & 18 The Gateway, Rothwell, Leeds, LS26 0RT
Decision date: 21 May 2025
Full decision: Read on GOV.UK
Managing agent named in the decision: The Gateway (Rothwell) Limited.
What was challenged and what the tribunal decided
| Item | Demanded | Allowed | Outcome | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other charges (2021) | £563 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Reserve fund contributions (2021) | £800 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2021) | £2,880 | £2,160 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2021) | £3,240 | £270 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Poor standard of work |
| Other charges (2021) | £222 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Works not necessary, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Gardening & grounds (2021) | £1,832 | £900 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £3,057.55 | £1,528.78 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2021) | £931 | £465.50 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2021) | £2,794.16 | £2,794.16 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2022) | £688 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Reserve fund contributions (2022) | £800 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2022) | £3,415 | £2,561.25 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2022) | £3,240 | £404 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Poor standard of work |
| Other charges (2022) | £222 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Works not necessary, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Gardening & grounds (2022) | £1,800 | £900 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £2,758.10 | £1,379.05 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2022) | £630.91 | £315.46 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Buildings insurance (2022) | £2,942.21 | £2,942.21 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2023) | £688 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Reserve fund contributions (2023) | £800 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Management fees (2023) | £3,713 | £2,784.75 | Reduced | Fee excessive for service delivered, Standard not reasonable (s19(1)(b)) |
| Cleaning (2023) | £2,703 | £540 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)) |
| Other charges (2023) | £202 | £0 | Disallowed entirely | Works not necessary, Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Gardening & grounds (2023) | £2,237 | £900 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | £2,963.69 | £1,481.85 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Repairs & maintenance (2023) | £542.02 | £271.01 | Reduced | Costs unreasonably incurred (s19(1)(a)), Landlord could not evidence the cost |
| Utilities (2023) | £3,107.52 | £3,107.52 | Allowed in full | — |
| Other charges (2023) | £180 | £180 | Allowed in full | — |
| Buildings insurance (2023) | £3,774.78 | £3,774.78 | Allowed in full | — |
Section 20C order: granted.
Key passages (verbatim)
“there is no evidence before us that any such work has been carried out, let alone that it has been carried out to a reasonable and satisfactory standard such that the tenants are able to understand how their money is being spent”
“we cannot conclude that these specific sums are reasonable, reasonably incurred and payable in the context of the absence of meaningful information from the Respondent”
“we have therefore deducted 25% of the management fee charged, as in our view given the poor level of service this percentage is not reasonably incurred and not payable”
“we have therefore calculated that Mr Sidebottom spent approximately 13 hours carrying out internal cleaning at The Gateway in 2021. We have determined that a reasonable amount for this...is £270 for the year”
“As we are not persuaded that this work has been carried out, the cost has not been reasonably incurred and is therefore not payable.”
“we have estimated on the basis of the evidence before us that Mr Sidebottom attended the site approximately 16 times each year for 2hrs 15 minutes...This gives a sum of £900”
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.