First-tier Tribunal Grants Fire Safety Works Dispensation Without Hearing

OUTCOME: Allowed

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FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL [NAME] CHAMBER ([NAME])

Case Reference

:

CHI/00ML/LDC/2021/0050

[NAME]

:

[ADDRESS], 80 [APPELLANT]. Brighton, [POSTCODE]

Applicant: [redacted]

:

[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

:

[NAME] of Decision

:

Made on the papers without a hearing (rule 6A of the Tribunal Procedure Rules 2013 as amended by The Tribunal Procedure (Coronavirus) Amendment Rules 2020 SI 2020 No 406 L11 on 11 June 2021

DECISION The Tribunal grants dispensation from the consultation requirements of S.20 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 in respect of the works to Replace the existing fire alarm panel, supply and install 105 addressable system sensor heat detectors and programme and test. In granting dispensation, the Tribunal makes no determination as to whether any service charge costs are reasonable or payable. The applicant is to send a copy of this determination to each [NAME].

2 Background

1. 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.

2. The Applicant explains that the building consists of some 33 flats. The majority of [NAME] are shareholders in the [COMPANY]. The block has a “waking watch” in place at a significant cost. It has been suggested that if heat sensors to the building are installed the waking watch will no longer be required.

3. The works comprise;

• Replace the existing fire alarm panel • Supply and install 105 addressable system sensor heat detectors • Programme and test

4. The managing agent advises the likely cost of such works should not exceed £50,000 and it is hoped may be significantly cheaper. The [NAME] have been advised at a meeting that an application is to be made and the intentions of the management company.

5. The Tribunal made Directions on 18 May 2021 indicating that it was satisfied that the matter is urgent, it is not practicable for there to be a hearing and it is in the interests of justice to make a decision disposing of the proceedings without a hearing (rule 6A of the Tribunal Procedure Rules 2013 as amended by The Tribunal Procedure (Coronavirus) Amendment Rules 2020 SI 2020 No 406 L11.

6. The Tribunal required the Applicant to send to the Respondents its Directions together with a copy of the Application and a form to indicate whether they agreed with or objected to the application and if they objected to send their reasons to the Applicant.

7. It was indicated that if the application was agreed to or no response was received the lessees would be removed as Respondents.

8. No objections were received from the lessees and in accordance with the above paragraph been removed as Respondents.

9. Before making this determination, the papers received were examined to determine whether the issues remained capable of determination without an oral hearing and it was decided that they were given that the application remained unchallenged.

3 10. The only issue for the Tribunal is whether it is reasonable to dispense with any statutory consultation requirements. This decision does not concern the issue of whether any service charge costs will be reasonable or payable.

The Law

11. 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.

12. The matter was examined in some detail by the Supreme Court in the case of [COMPANY] v [NAME]. In summary the Supreme Court noted the following

i. The main question for the Tribunal when considering how to exercise its jurisdiction in accordance with section 20ZA is the real prejudice to the tenants flowing from the landlord’s breach of the consultation requirements.

ii. The financial consequence to the landlord of not granting a dispensation is not a relevant factor. The nature of the landlord is not a relevant factor.

iii. Dispensation should not be refused solely because the landlord seriously breached, or departed from, the consultation requirements.

iv. The Tribunal has power to grant a dispensation as it thinks fit, provided that any terms are appropriate.

v. The Tribunal has power to impose a condition that the landlord pays the tenants’ reasonable costs (including [NAME] and/or legal fees) incurred in connection with the landlord’s application under section 20ZA (1).

vi. The legal burden of proof in relation to dispensation applications is on the landlord. The factual burden of identifying some “relevant” prejudice that they would or might have suffered is on the tenants.

vii. The court considered that “relevant” prejudice should be given a narrow definition; it means whether non-compliance with the consultation requirements has led the landlord to incur costs in an unreasonable amount or to incur them in the provision of

4 services, or in the carrying out of works, which fell below a reasonable standard, in other words whether the non- compliance has in that sense caused prejudice to the tenant.

viii. The more serious and/or deliberate the landlord's failure, the more readily a Tribunal would be likely to accept that the tenants had suffered prejudice.

ix. Once the tenants had shown a credible case for prejudice, the Tribunal should look to the landlord to rebut it. Evidence

13. The circumstances of this application are described in paragraph 2 above and in the absence of any objection no further submissions have been necessary.

Determination

14. Dispensation from the consultation requirements of S.20 of the Act may be given where the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to dispense with those requirements. Guidance on how such power may be exercised is provided by the leading case of Daejan v [NAME] referred to above.

15. No objections have been received and therefore no prejudice as referred to in the [NAME] case above has been identified.

16. The work is clearly urgent, competitive quotations were obtained and in these circumstances, I am prepared to grant the dispensation requested.

17. In view of the above the Tribunal grants dispensation from the consultation requirements of S.20 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 in respect of the works to Replace the existing fire alarm panel, supply and install 105 addressable system sensor heat detectors and programme and test.

18. In granting dispensation, the Tribunal makes no determination as to whether any service charge costs are reasonable or payable.

19. The applicant is to send a copy of this determination to each [NAME].

D [NAME] [NAME] 11 June 2021

5 RIGHTS OF APPEAL

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.