First-tier Tribunal Grants Dispensation for Urgent Roof Repairs

OUTCOME: Allowed

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FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) Case reference : LON/00AM/LDC/2022/0174 P:Paperremote Property : 64 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE] Applicant : [redacted] : [RESPONDENT] Respondent: [redacted]

The [NAME] named on the schedule attached to the application

Type of application : To dispense with the consultation requirements under S.20 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 Tribunal member(s) : [NAME] and venue of determination : 20 January 2023 Remote on the papers

DECISION

This has been a remote hearing on the papers which has been consented to by the Applicant and not objected to by the Respondent. A face to face hearing was not held because it was not practicable, no-one requested the same, and all the issues could be determined on the papers. The documents that I was referred to were in an electronic bundle, the contents of which I have recorded.

2

Decision of the tribunal (1) The Tribunal grants dispensation from all of the consultation requirements under S.20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 in relation to repairing the high level guttering and roof of the premises. (2) The question of reasonableness of the works or cost was not included in this application, the sole purpose of which is to seek dispensation. The Background 1. The application under section 20ZA of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (“the Act”) was made by [APPELLANT] on behalf of the applicants on 9 September 2022.

2. The application concerned urgent roof works.

3. Directions were issued on 24 October 2022 requiring the applicant to prepare bundles by 16 December 2022 to include statements (i) Setting out the full grounds for the application, including all of the documents on which the landlord relies and copies of any replies from the tenants; (ii) The [NAME] were asked to confirm by 2 December 2022 whether or not they would give their consent to the application. (iii) In the event that such agreement was not forthcoming the [NAME] were to state why they opposed the application; and provide copies of all documents to be relied upon. 4. [APPELLANT], on behalf of the applicant, confirmed that on 2 November the [NAME] and the solicitor acing on behalf of the estate of the deceased lessee of Flat 4 had each been sent a copy of the [POSTCODE] application form, the applicant’s statement of case, a copy of the Directions and reply form. [COMPANY] confirmed that no objections had been received from any interested party.

5. The [NAME] were informed in the Directions issued by the Tribunal that the question of reasonableness of the works or cost was not included in this application, the sole purpose of which is to seek dispensation. The Evidence

3 6. [ADDRESS] is a Victorian house which has been converted into four flats. The roof was leaking resulting in water ingress into Flat 4. No consultation took place because the works were urgent to prevent further damage. A quotation for the works in the sum of £2650 was obtained from [COMPANY]. The Decision 7. The relevant test to be applied in an application for dispensation was set out by the Supreme Court in [COMPANY] v [NAME] & Ors [2013] UKSC 14 where it was held that the purpose of the section 20 consultation procedure was to protect tenants from paying for inappropriate works or paying an inappropriate amount. Dispensation should not result in prejudice to the tenant.

8. The Tribunal determines from the evidence before it that the applicant took all reasonable steps to undertake the repairs in a timely manner to prevent additional damage to the building. There have been no objections from any leaseholder and no prejudice to the lessees has been demonstrated or asserted.

9. On the evidence before it, and in these circumstances, the Tribunal considers that the application for dispensation be granted.

Name: [NAME]: 20 January 2023

RIGHTS OF APPEAL

1. If a party wishes to appeal this decision to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) then a written application for permission must be made to the First-tier Tribunal at the Regional office which has been dealing with the case.

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

3. If the application is not made within the 28 day time limit, such application must include a request for an extension of time and the reason for not complying with the 28 day time limit; the Tribunal will then look at such reason(s) and decide whether to allow the application

4 for permission to appeal to proceed despite not being within the time limit.

4. The application for permission to appeal must identify the decision of the Tribunal to which it relates (i.e. give the date, the property and the case number), state the grounds of appeal, and state the result the party making the application is seeking.