First-tier Tribunal Grants Dispensation for Urgent Major Works

OUTCOME: Allowed

© CROWN COPYRIGHT

FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)

Case Reference

:

HAV/45UF/LDC/2025/0773

Property

:

[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Applicant: [redacted]

The Manor (Horsham) [APPELLANT]

:

[NAME]

Respondent: [redacted]

:

Type of Application

:

To dispense with the requirement to consult lessees about major works section 20ZA of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985

Tribunal Member

:

Regional Surveyor J Coupe FRICS

Date of Decision

:

13 January 2026

DECISION

2 Summary of the Decision

1. The Applicant is granted dispensation under Section 20ZA of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 from the consultation requirements imposed on the landlord by Section 20 of the 1985 Act in relation to the replacement of the communal boiler. The Tribunal has made no determination on whether the costs of the works are reasonable or payable.

Background

2. The Applicant seeks dispensation under Section 20ZA of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 from the consultation requirements imposed on the landlord by Section 20 of the 1985 Act (“the 1985 Act”). The application was received on 3 December 2025.

3. The Property is described in the application as a converted Listed Building comprising eight apartments.

4. The Applicant states that the communal boiler has failed and must be replaced to ensure adequate heating throughout the winter and to prevent damp and mould.

5. The first Section 20 Notice under the 1985 Act – the Notice of Intention to carry out works – is said to have been issued. The date of issue is undisclosed and a copy of the Notice was not provided.

6. The Applicant provided an invoice dated 26 November 2025 from [APPELLANT] for £1,680, identified as a deposit for a replacement boiler scheduled for installation during the week commencing 8 December 2025.

7. The Applicant also submitted an invoice dated 11 December 2025 for £1,698, representing the balance payable for the replacement boiler.

8. The Tribunal gave Directions on 15 December 2025 listing the steps to be taken by the parties in preparation for the determination of the dispute, if any.

9. The Directions stated that Tribunal would determine the application on the papers received unless a party objected in writing to the Tribunal within 14 days of the date of receipt of the Directions. No party has objected to the application being determined on the papers.

10. The only issue for the Tribunal is whether or not it is reasonable to dispense with the statutory consultation requirements. This application is not about the proposed costs of the works, and whether they are recoverable from the [RESPONDENT] as service charges or the possible application or effect of the Building Safety Act 2022. The [RESPONDENT] have the right to make a separate application to

3 the Tribunal under section 27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to determine the reasonableness of the costs, and the contribution payable through the service charges.

The Law

11. Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (“the Act”) and the related Regulations provide that where [NAME] undertakes qualifying works with a cost of more than £250 per lease, the relevant contribution of each [NAME] (jointly where more than one under any given lease) will be limited to that sum unless the required consultations have been undertaken or the requirement has been dispensed with by the Tribunal. An application may be made retrospectively.

12. The relevant section of the Act reads as follows:

S.20 ZA Consultation requirements: Where an application is made to a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal for a determination to dispense with all or any of the consultation requirements in relation to any qualifying works or qualifying long- term agreement, the Tribunal may make the determination if satisfied that it is reasonable to dispense with the requirements.

13. The appropriate approach to be taken by the Tribunal in the exercise of its discretion was considered by the Supreme Court in the case of [COMPANY] v [NAME] et al [2013] UKSC 14.

14. The leading judgment of Lord [NAME] explained that a Tribunal should focus on the question of whether [NAME] will be, or had been, prejudiced in either paying where that was not appropriate or in paying more than appropriate because the failure of [NAME] to comply with the regulations. The requirements were held to give practical effect to those two objectives and were a means to an end, not an end in themselves.

15. The factual burden of demonstrating prejudice falls on [NAME]. [NAME] must identify what would have been said if able to engage in a consultation process. If [NAME] advances a credible case for having been prejudiced, [NAME] must rebut it. The Tribunal should be sympathetic to [NAME](s).

16. Where the extent, quality and cost of the works were in no way affected by [NAME]’s failure to comply, Lord [NAME] said as follows:

I find it hard to see why the dispensation should not be granted (at least in the absence of some very good reason): in such a case the tenants would be in precisely the position that the legislation intended them to be- i.e. as if the requirements had been complied with.

17. The main, indeed normally, the sole question, as described by Lord [NAME], for the Tribunal to determine is therefore whether, or not,

4 [NAME] will be or has been caused relevant prejudice by a failure of the Applicant to undertake the consultation prior to the major works and so whether dispensation in respect of that should be granted.

18. The question is one of the reasonableness of dispensing with the process of consultation provided for in the Act, not one of the reasonableness of the charges of works arising or which have arisen.

19. If dispensation is granted, that may be on terms.

20. There have been subsequent Decisions of the higher Courts and Tribunals of assistance in the application of the Decision in Daejan but none are relied upon or therefore require specific mention in this Decision.

Consideration

21. The Directions attached a reply form for the Respondents to complete to confirm whether they agreed with the application or not and if opposed, to provide a statement setting out why they oppose.

22. No replies were received by the Tribunal.

23. On 6 January 2026, the [NAME] confirmed that they had not received any objections to the application from the Respondents.

24. Having carefully considered the application and information before me, and prior to undertaking this determination, I was satisfied that a determination on the papers remains appropriate, given that the application remains unchallenged.

25. Dispensation from the full consultation process is sought due to the urgent need to restore central heating to residents during winter months. Given the essential nature of the service, I am satisfied that the qualifying works were necessary and of an urgent character.

26. The Applicant demonstrated a willingness to engage in the statutory process by issuing the initial Section 20 consultation Notice to the Respondents. I am therefore satisfied that the Respondents were informed of the issue and the proposed remedial action, and had the opportunity to comment.

27. No [NAME] has objected to the application for dispensation, nor has any [NAME] asserted that any prejudice has been caused to them. I am satisfied that a full consultation would not have produced a different outcome, other than causing delay and potential risk to residents.

5 28. Accordingly, I find that the Respondents have not suffered any prejudice by the failure of the Applicant to follow the full consultation process.

DECISION

29. For the reasons above, I find that it is reasonable to dispense with all of the formal consultation requirements in respect of the major works to the building as described in this Decision.

30. This Decision is confined to determination of the issue of dispensation from the consultation requirements in respect of replacement of the communal boiler, as outlined at paragraph 4. The Tribunal has not made a determination on whether the costs are payable or reasonable. If a [NAME] wishes to challenge the payability or reasonableness of those costs, then a separate application under section 27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 would have to be made.

31. In reaching my decision, I have taken account of the fact that no party has objected to the application. The Respondents have had opportunity to raise any objection and they have not done so.

32. The Applicant is required to send a copy of this decision to all [RESPONDENT] and to display a copy in a prominent location in a communal part of the building for a minimum 28 days.

RIGHTS OF APPEAL

A person wishing to appeal this decision to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) must seek permission to do so by making written application to the First-tier Tribunal at the [NAME] which has been dealing with the case by email at [EMAIL]

The application must arrive at the Tribunal within 28 days after the Tribunal sends to the person making the application written reasons for the decision.

If the person wishing to appeal does not comply with the 28- day time limit, the person shall include with the application for permission to appeal a request for an extension of time and the reason for not complying with the 28- day time limit; the Tribunal will then decide whether to extend time or not to allow the application for permission to appeal to proceed.

The application for permission to appeal must identify the decision of the Tribunal to which it relates, state the grounds of appeal, and state the result the party making the application is seeking.