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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Tenant Entitled to Accurate Service Charges Based on Actual Invoices

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal adjusted the service charges for a tenant based on accurate invoices and clarified the use of a a person in the lease agreement. This ensures that the tenant pays only reasonable costs as defined by the lease terms.

⚖️ Legal holding

Under the relevant tenancy legislation, service charges must be reasonable and accurately reflect the costs incurred.

Topics

service chargesreserve fundlease terms

Provisions

Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 s.19Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 s.27A

📖 What the law says

Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 s.19

This section requires that service charges must be reasonable, considering only the costs that are reasonably incurred. It also mandates that if a service charge is paid before the costs are incurred, the amount should be reasonable, and any necessary adjustments should be made once the costs are known.

Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a solicitor.

📖 Technical summary

The tribunal adjusted the disputed service charges based on the accuracy and reasonableness of the costs incurred by the landlord.

📜 Headnote Official document

The Tribunal adjusted service charges based on accurate invoices and clarified the use of a reserve fund in a lease agreement. The decision was made by Judge A Davies and Member N Swain MRICS.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

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FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL [NAME] (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) Case Reference : MAN/36UH/LSC/2024/0233

Property : [NAME] [POSTCODE]

Applicant: [redacted]

Respondent: [redacted] : Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 – s 27A

Tribunal Members : Tribunal Judge [NAME] Tribunal Member [NAME] of Correction : 10 September 2025

____________________________________________ CORRECTION SLIP pursuant to Rule 50 of The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) ([NAME]) Rules 2013 (“the Rules”) _________________________________

The decision of the Tribunal dated 19 August 2013 and paragraphs 19(3), 20 and 22 of the reasons for that decision are reviewed and amended to read as follows (amendments underlined):

1) The Decision: 1. The service charge payable by the Respondent for the period 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2023 is £1498.49.

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2. The matter is remitted to York County Court for determination of all other issues under case number K5QZ3C9Q.

2) Paragraph 19(3) of the Reasons: “A sum of £3000 was included in the 2022 service charge accounts for a [NAME] to meet major expenditure. The 2023 balancing account (page 131 of the hearing bundle) shows that a [NAME] collection of £3000 was intended and included in the budget demand, but was not in the event collected. Ms [RESPONDENT]’s share of the 2022 contribution was 20% according to the accounts: £600. Her query regarding the [NAME] relates to period prior to 1 January 2022, and specifically as to (a) how £3200 charged for the [NAME] in 2021 was utilised (b) whether the fund is kept in a separate bank account (c) what is her share of the current balance, and (d) what the fund is intended for in future.

In response to this the Applicant merely states “The [NAME] balance (and movement) are dealt with in the service charge accounts”.

The Tribunal finds the Applicant’s failure to respond helpfully to the Respondent’s concerns about the use of her money to be inexplicable and regrettable. At paragraph 12 of its Supplementary Statement the Applicant says that funds were raised in advance in 2018 for the 2020 roof repairs, and the Tribunal has no information as to any subsequent major expenditure. While specific information is not available, the Tribunal finds that accruing a [NAME] for future major works is justified. In particular, it is clear that some external weatherproofing and painting will be required in the yard. For such intended work, collecting a sum of up to £3000 per year is not unreasonable. The accounts show that at the end of 2023 the [NAME] amounted to £7409.20. Ms [RESPONDENT] requested information about her share of the [NAME], on the basis that it should not be used to maintain parts of the estate which did not benefit her. The Tribunal finds that the [NAME] may be used for any purpose authorised by the terms of the lease, and that once monies are paid into it they no longer attach to any particular leaseholder.

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3) Paragraph 20 of the Reasons: In calculating the service charges payable by Ms [RESPONDENT], the Tribunal noted and adjusted the differences between the sums claimed by the Applicant and the invoices supplied. In respect to the annual costs of maintaining the private drainage system, which Ms [NAME] did not dispute, the Tribunal finds that the invoice total has been incorrectly added to the service charge account as £1152 for each of the years 2022 and 2023 whereas the invoices amount to £1512 for each year. The Tribunal has seen no suggestion that this was anything other than a repeated typing error, and the correct total has been included in the calculation below.

4) Paragraph 22 of the Reasons, from the heading [NAME]: [NAME] 2022

£1152 Claimed 2023 (Q1)

£288 £1440 Allowed per invoices supplied £1440 2022 £1152 2023 2023 (Q1) £378 £1890 Respondent’s contribution 12.5%

£180 [NAME] 2022 £3000 Claimed 2023 (Q1)

NIL

Allowed 2022

£3000

Respondent’s contribution 12.5%

£375 Respondent’s service charge for the period

£1498.49

REASONS 1. In making its determination, the Tribunal confused the [NAME] contributions in the service charge years ending 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2023. Consequently the decision reflected an error in the Tribunal’s calculations: a service charge contribution of £3000 was sought from the [NAME] for the year 2022 and no contribution was collected in 2023, rather than the other way round.

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2. The Tribunal found that the [NAME] contribution was payable as demanded save that the Respondent’s share was 12.5% and not 20% as claimed. The calculation at the end of paragraph 22 of the Tribunal’s reasons was incorrect, in that it provided for the Respondent to pay nothing for the year 2022 (a year in which the Respondent was due to pay 12.5% of the [NAME] charge) but a contribution for the first quarter of the year 2023 (when no [NAME] contribution was in fact due).

3. Invoices for drainage services provided by the Applicant stated that £180 was charged quarterly. There were in the hearing bundle also two (half-yearly) invoices for £395 for drainage services in each of the relevant years. Following issue of the decision, the Applicant informed the Tribunal that the invoices for £395 included the £180 quarterly figure, thus reducing the annual cost to £1152. Paragraph 20 of the reasons and the calculation at the end of paragraph 22 have been amended accordingly.

4. Rule 50 of the Rules states that a Tribunal - “may at any time correct any clerical mistake or other accidental slip or omission in a decision, direction or any document produced by it, by – (a) sending notification of the amended decision or direction, or a copy of the amended document, to each party; and (b) making any necessary amendment to any information published in relation to the decision, direction or document.”

5. Pursuant to Rule 50, the errors have now been corrected.

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Property : [APPELLANT], [NAME], [NAME] [POSTCODE]

Applicant: [redacted]

Tribunal Members : Tribunal Judge [NAME] Tribunal Member [NAME] of Decision : 18 August 2025

DECISION

1. The service charge payable by the Respondent for the period 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2023 is £1273.49.

REASONS

1. On 3 May 2024 District Judge MacCuish sitting at the York County Court transferred to this tribunal the question of reasonableness of and liability for

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disputed service charges demanded of the Respondent by the Applicant for the 15 month period 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2023. The sum claimed by the Respondent for this period was £2261.96.

2. The Applicant owns a small estate at [NAME] near [NAME] comprising five leasehold residential properties and common parts. All the dwellings are contained in a single building. The Respondent owns the leasehold interest in one of these properties, a first floor flat known as [NAME]. The other properties on the estate are two first floor flats known as [NAME] and [NAME] (adjacent to and similar to [NAME], save that they share an external access stairway and internal lobby), a ground floor flat ([NAME]), and a house ([NAME]). The first floor of [NAME] was originally a fourth first floor flat adjacent to [NAME], but in or about 2005 it was joined with the ground floor premises below it to form a house. Each of the three remaining first floor flats fronts on to a private paved terrace reached via a stairway from a shared yard and parking area to the south of the building. Below the terraces of [NAME] and [NAME] are four garages, one of which is included in the Respondent’s lease of [NAME]. [RESPONDENT] terrace is a shared space used for storage and housing the meter cupboard.

3. [NAME] have a separate vehicular access and parking arrangements to the north of the building. The properties on the estate each have their own electricity and gas supplies, but share a private foul drain. The estate is situated in countryside on a private road used in common with a number of other properties.

THE LEASES 4. Leasehold interests in the original 6 properties on the estate were sold in or about 2004. The leases create a term of 250 years from 1 January 2002 and provide for payment of service charges intended to cover the freeholder’s cost of compliance with its leasehold obligations. The proportion of those costs payable by the owner of [NAME] is stated to be 12.5% of costs relating to the building, 25% of costs incurred for the benefit of the first floor flats, and “a fair proportion according to use of other service charges”.

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5. The leases allow the freeholder to collect, as part of the Service Charge, “reasonable provision for the future in respect of 1) periodically recurring items whether recurring at regular or irregular intervals: and 2) the replacement or renewal of items the expenditure on which would fall within the Service Charge”.

6. In August 2005 following amalgamation of the ground and first floors to form [NAME], a lease of that property was granted for a term of 999 years from 1 January 2002, to replace the original leases. A copy of this 2005 lease was not supplied to the Tribunal.

7. Over the intervening years some confusion and a good deal of bad feeling has arisen between [NAME] on the estate, resulting in tribunal determinations as to service charges and their apportionment in respect to [RESPONDENT]. The Respondent Ms [RESPONDENT], however, has not made any application for determination of her service charges under section 27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (“LTA 1985”), despite querying the Applicant’s accounts for the years 2020 and 2021 and refusing to pay the amounts demanded in advance as budget figures for 2022 and the first quarter of 2023.

8. The Applicant’s only directors are Mr and Mrs [APPELLANT], the [NAME] of [NAME]. The Respondent and the leaseholder of [RESPONDENT] are the only residents of the estate who are not shareholders of the Applicant – the reason for this is unclear. In August 2023 the Applicant sued the Respondent in the York County Court when she failed to pay sums demanded as (at that time) the proposed service charges for the period covered by this determination.

THE LAW 9. Section 19 of the LTA 1985 provides as follows: “(1) Relevant costs [ie costs incurred by or on behalf of the landlord] shall be taken into account in determining the amount of a service charge payable for a period (a) only to the extent that they are reasonably incurred, and (b) where they are incurred on the provision of services or the carrying out of works, only if the services or works are of a reasonable standard;

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and the amount payable shall be limited accordingly.

(2) Where a service charge is payable before the relevant costs are incurred, no greater amount than is reasonable is so payable, and after the relevant costs have been incurred any necessary adjustment shall be made by repayment, reduction or subsequent charges or otherwise.”

10. “Service charge” is defined at section 18(1) of the 1985 Act as “…an amount payable by a tenant of a dwelling as part of or in addition to the rent (a) which is payable, directly or indirectly, for services, repairs, maintenance, improvements or insurance or the landlord’s costs of management, and (b) the whole or part of which varies or may vary according to the relevant costs….”

INSPECTION AND HEARING 11. The Tribunal inspected the common parts of the estate prior to the hearing but did not visit the access road to [NAME] and [NAME], which leads to the left from the lane. At the junction is a wooden sign erected by the Applicant indicating that those two properties are to the left and all other properties are along the lane to the right.

12. The Respondent Ms [RESPONDENT], the [NAME] of [NAME] and [NAME] Mr [COUNSEL] and Mr [COUNSEL], and Mr [COUNSEL] of counsel were present during the inspection. In addition to the yard to the south of the building, the Tribunal viewed the shared storage area and (briefly) the interior of three of the garages. Mr [RESPONDENT] accompanied the Tribunal into [NAME], where the Respondent indicated where she said rainwater penetrated alongside the flue of her stove and pointed out areas of the ceilings in the living room and the guest bedroom which showed signs of water staining.

13. At the hearing the Applicant was represented by Mr [APPELLANT] and Mr [APPELLANT] was present to give evidence in support of his witness statement. The Respondent was unrepresented. The Tribunal had the benefit of a hearing bundle comprising the documents relied on by both parties. The bundle included a statement on behalf of the Respondent made by Mr [RESPONDENT] of [NAME] but Mr [RESPONDENT] did

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not attend the hearing. His statement does not directly relate to the issues before the Tribunal.

14. At the outset of the hearing, the Tribunal informed the parties that its determination would relate to the actual service charges payable for the 15 month period in question, although the claim in the York County Court had, at the time, related to proposed (budgeted) amounts. The actual figures were of course now available and the Tribunal did not intend to determine budget figures which would be subject to alteration at the end of the relevant service charge year. The County Court proceedings were taken with a view to possible forfeiture of the Respondent’s lease (paragraph 11 of the Particulars of Claim), and she was entitled to clarity as to what was owed.

15. The Tribunal also acknowledged that pursuant to a directions order made on 7 August 2025 the Respondent’s application for further disclosure of documents remained outstanding. This would be dealt with at the end of the hearing, and a directions order would be made in the event that the Tribunal, in order to make its determination, needed to see documents which were not in the hearing bundle.

THE APPLICANT’S CASE 16. Complying with directions, the Applicant produced its service charge accounts for the years 2022 and 2023, and supporting invoices. The Applicant confirms in its Statement of Case that these are “all invoices for the periods in question and under consideration by the Tribunal”. Mr [NAME] told the Tribunal that for the years in question all such costs had been divided equally, 20% each, between the five residents of the estate, irrespective of the size of their properties, and that the County Court claim against the Respondent was for her 20%.

17. The Respondent queried why she was being charged a greater percentage than provided for in her lease. The Tribunal raised this with counsel as it was a point not dealt with in the Applicant’s papers. Taking instructions, counsel said that the equal division of costs had been agreed in 2009 and had been the practice “ever since” on an informal basis, there having been no variation of the original leases. He said that this arrangement had recently been disputed and that by a

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resolution in 2024 the Applicant had decided to revert to the division of costs set out in the various leases. Counsel seems to have been mistaken, since the Tribunal notes that 12.5% was considered the Respondent’s share at least as late as 2021, when she was credited with 12.5% “of the 2021 surplus” according to the Applicant’s statement of account. Moreover Ms [RESPONDENT] told the Tribunal that she paid 12.5% of service charge costs in the years immediately after she bought her property in 2018, and that she had contributed to the roof repair costs (and been credited with a refund) both on the basis of a 12.5% contribution.

18. Having heard the Applicant’s case and considering the documents supplied, the Tribunal determined that any service charges payable by the Respondent must be based on the percentage contributions set out in her lease, and should reflect the expenditure incurred in the relevant period as indicated by the invoices supplied to the Tribunal by the Applicant. These invoices do not correlate to the annual service charge figures issued by the [NAME] to the [NAME] (at pages 118 and 131 of the hearing bundle).

THE RESPONDENT’S CASE 19. Ms [RESPONDENT]’s objections to paying the service charges are set out below together with the Applicant’s response and the Tribunal’s finding:

(1) Ms [RESPONDENT] considered that instead of a credit balance of £98.57 at 30 June 2021 as shown in the managing agent’s statement of her account, “at least” £1200 was due to her in addition at that time, being her share of a refund from a [NAME] who did not complete the work he had undertaken. Ms [RESPONDENT] also said that she had seen invoices for the year 2021 amounting to £4131.31 whereas the service charge account for that year indicated that costs of £8037 had been incurred, and service charges were levied accordingly.

The Applicant explained that the [NAME] had been sued and had paid damages, which had been used to pay a different contractor to complete the work. The [NAME] were not out of pocket, but no refund was due to them.

The Tribunal accepts this explanation. Further, issues relating to the period prior to 1 January 2022 are not relevant to assessment of the reasonableness and

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payability of service charges for the following 15 months. If Ms [RESPONDENT] believes that service charges have been incorrectly claimed or apportioned in the years 2020 or 2021, her remedy is to apply to the Tribunal for a determination of service charges in those years under section 27A of the 1985 Act. No such application has been made. Meanwhile, it appears to the Tribunal that the discrepancy identified by Ms [RESPONDENT] between the 2021 service charge demand and invoices is partly accounted for by a collection of £3200 towards the [NAME] in 2021, for which no invoice would be available.

(2) Ms [RESPONDENT] also queried two different figures that had been mentioned for the sum recovered from the [NAME]. She was told by the [NAME] that he had been ordered to pay £1855, but the Applicant says that £1740 was recovered and used to pay for the roof work to be completed.

This discrepancy was not addressed by the Applicant but the Tribunal considers that on a balance of probabilities the additional £115 paid by the contractor related to interest or the costs of bringing a County Court claim against him. It is noted that, as is the case with many of Ms [RESPONDENT]’s concerns, no straightforward explanation has been provided by the Applicant either in its accounts or to the Tribunal.

(3) A sum of £3000 was included in the 2023 service charge accounts for a [NAME] to meet major expenditure. The 2022 balancing account shows that a [NAME] collection of £3000 was intended and included in the budget demand, but was not in the event collected. Ms [RESPONDENT]’s share of the 2023 contribution was 20%: £600. Her query regarding the [NAME] relates to period prior to 1 January 2022, and specifically as to (a) how £3200 charged for the [NAME] in 2021 was utilised (b) whether the fund is kept in a separate bank account (c) what is her share of the current balance, and (d) what the fund is intended for in future.

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(4) Ms [RESPONDENT] said that the roof work, even after rectification, was not carried out to a reasonable standard, and that her service charge should be reduced because she continues to experience ingress of water. She also said that the garages were subject to water penetration from the terraces above them.

The Respondent denies that the work to the roof had not eventually been carried out to a reasonable standard, and further denies that the garages are damp.

Following inspection, the Tribunal finds that there are no indications of damp in the garages. The small dehumidifier kept by Ms [RESPONDENT] in her garage naturally fills with water daily given its location. The Tribunal notes that water leaks within [NAME] are connected with the stove flue, and agrees with the Applicant that this is an issue for Ms [RESPONDENT] to resolve rather than requiring further roof repair. Ms [RESPONDENT] produced no evidence that the roof remained defective, or that the water stains on her ceilings indicated that there were still damp issues in her property.

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(5) The [NAME] fee charged by the Applicant in the service charge account was £315 in 2022 and £300 in 2023. Ms [RESPONDENT] objected to these because, she said, the accounts were supplied late and were inaccurate.

In response, Mr [NAME] said that the lease does not provide for service charge accounts to be supplied by a specific date. In each year the budget indicates what service charges are expected and a balancing account is taken when the actual figures are known.

The Tribunal finds that the [NAME] fees are reasonable and the service charge accounts were not served out of time. Any errors in them appear to be due to information supplied by the Applicant and/or the [NAME].

(6) Ms [RESPONDENT] objected to pay a contribution towards the cost of buildings insurance, on the basis that she had not been provided with a copy of the policy and had no proof that appropriate insurance was in place. Answering questions from Mr [NAME] she confirmed that she had not obtained any alternative premium quotation.

Mr [NAME] told the Tribunal that the [NAME] obtained insurance each year after testing the market for a premium which they considered best value. He said that premiums had increased due to flooding risks. The premium was £2059.51 in 2022 and £3295.76 in 2023. He said that as he and the owners of [NAME] and [APPELLANT] (the other shareholders of the Applicant) paid the majority of service charge costs they were as keen as anyone to ensure that the premiums were reasonable.

The Tribunal finds that the premiums appear reasonable and that Ms [RESPONDENT] has not produced any evidence to the contrary. The invoices from the [NAME] indicate that insurance is in place, as Mr [NAME] says. It is highly regrettable that no copy of the policy has been provided to Ms [RESPONDENT] to alleviate her concerns. The Applicant is in breach of clause 5.2 of Ms [RESPONDENT]’s lease insofar as it has failed to give her particulars of the insurance policy, the appropriate method of doing this being to provide her with a copy of the document.

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(7) Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance premiums have been claimed as a service charge in the sum of £289.50 in 2022 and £201.06 in 2023. Ms [RESPONDENT] claims that this expense is not a legitimate service charge item.

Following the decision in [NAME] v [NAME] ([COMPANY] [2010] UKUT 342 (LC) quoted by an earlier tribunal in a case brought by [NAME] (case number MAN/36UH/2023/0090) the Tribunal is bound to find that such insurance premiums are not service charge items and should be removed from the account.

(8) The service charge item “[NAME]” in the sum of £312 for the year 2022 relates to a Fire Risk Assessment carried out by [COMPANY]. The invoice states “Fire Risk Assessment – The [APPELLANT]”. Ms [RESPONDENT] objected to contribute to this cost, not having seen the Fire Risk Assessment or having any confirmation that it included her property.

The Tribunal finds that Ms [RESPONDENT] is not required to contribute to this cost as she has not seen the Fire Risk Assessment, which was not produced to the Tribunal either.

(9) [NAME]’ fees are charged in the sum of £2400 plus VAT (£400 per – notional – residential unit on the estate) each year under the terms of an agreement with the Applicant dated 1 July 2021. The managing agent at the start of 2022 was [NAME], whose business was taken over during 2023 by [NAME]. Ms [RESPONDENT] does not object to the amount of the fee, but claims that the standard of service is so poor as to justify her withholding her contribution towards it. She says that if she raises a question with the agents, they will not answer unless she pays an additional fee, and that she feels she receives insufficient value from the service.

Mr [APPELLANT] for the Applicant said that the fee is competitive, and that the additional fees were agreed upon because the previous agents were “bombarded” with queries from [NAME].

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The Tribunal finds that an annual fee of £2880 including VAT for the managing agent is reasonable and in line with the 2022/2023 market for a small estate. Ms [RESPONDENT] confirmed that she had not in fact paid any additional fee. The Tribunal has no evidence that the difficulties and obstructions faced by Ms [RESPONDENT] in relation to the service charge accounts emanate from the [NAME] rather than from the Applicant.

(10) Ms [RESPONDENT] objected to pay a contribution towards the cost of the signpost, which she believed to be on Mr [NAME] garden, directing traffic left to his property and [NAME] and right to other properties on the lane. She told the Tribunal that this was intended to benefit Mr [NAME] and should not be included in the service charge.

In reply Mr [NAME] said that the sign was helpful to everyone living on the lane from that point on, particularly in relation to delivery vans.

The Tribunal finds that the sign is a general advantage to the property and that the cost (£468) was properly included in the 2023 service charge account. The Tribunal also found that the invoices for minor roof and gutter repairs (£350 and £120) in 2022 were reasonable and payable. In 2023 [NAME]’ invoice for cleaning gutters at a cost of £430 included “for gutters next doors garage - £80”, and the recoverable cost is therefore limited to £350.

20. In calculating the service charges payable by Ms [NAME], the Tribunal noted and adjusted the differences between the sums claimed by the Applicant and the invoices supplied. In respect to the annual costs of maintaining the private drainage system, which Ms [NAME] did not dispute, the Tribunal finds that the invoice total has been incorrectly added to the service charge account as £1152 for each of the years 2022 and 2023 whereas the invoices amount to £1512 for each year. The Tribunal has seen no suggestion that this was anything other than a repeated typing error, and the correct total has been included in the calculation below.

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CONCLUSION 21. Ms [RESPONDENT] and the owners of [NAME] have been excluded from the discussions and decisions of the [COMPANY], and as a result naturally worry that they are being treated unfairly. Exacerbating this worry is the Applicant’s failure to be clear and accurate in its accounting. The tone of the Applicant’s statements in response to Ms [RESPONDENT]’s queries and concerns is disappointingly patronising and dismissive. For example, the Applicant says “The Respondent has again demonstrated her misunderstanding…” and “The Respondent also appears to have misunderstood the services and costs which can be recovered…”. Such comments are particularly inappropriate (1) where the Applicant has not only failed to apportion the service charges in accordance with Ms [RESPONDENT]’s lease but also sought to justify that apportionment before the Tribunal and (2) where the invoices supplied during the course of these proceedings and relied upon by the Applicant do not add up to the service charges contended for.

22. The following summary demonstrates any inconsistencies between the Applicant’s end of year service charge accounts, the actual expenditure as indicated by its invoices, and the Tribunal’s finding, for the reasons given above, as to sums payable:

[NAME] fee Claimed 2022

£2880 Claimed 2023 (Q1)

£720 £3600 Allowed

£3600

Respondent’s contribution 12.5%

£450 Buildings insurance premium

Claimed 2002

£2059.51 Claimed 2023 (Q1)

£823.94 2883.45 Allowed

£2883.45 Respondent’s contribution 12.5%

£360.43 Directors’ and officers’ insurance premium Claimed 2022

£289.50 Claimed 2023 (Q1)

£50.26 £339.76

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[NAME] 2022

£315 Claimed 2023 (Q1)

£75

£390 Allowed

£390 Respondent’s contribution 12.5%

£48.75 [NAME] 2022

£312 [NAME] 2022

£152 Claimed £2023 (Q1)

£327 £479 Allowed per invoices supplied

2022 £470

2023 (Q1) £204.50

£674.50 Respondent’s contribution 12.5%

£84.31 [NAME] 2022

£1152 Claimed 2023 (Q1)

£288 £1440 Allowed per invoices supplied

2022 £1512

2023 (Q1) £378

£1890 Respondent’s contribution 12.5%

£236.25 [NAME] 2022 £NIL Claimed 2023 (Q1) £750

£750 Allowed

£750 Respondent’s contribution 12.5%

£93.75 Respondent’s service charge for the period

£1273.49

23. Finally, the Tribunal considered the Respondent’s application for an order for disclosure under Rule 18 of the tribunal’s procedure rules. Because the years before 2022 and after 2023 are not relevant to the determination required by the County Court, no further documents have been required to enable the

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Tribunal to reach its conclusions. Ms [RESPONDENT] may if she wishes make applications under section 27A of the 1985 Act to the Tribunal and/or under section 25 of the 1985 Act to the magistrates court in pursuit of further information. No order is therefore made in respect of this Rule 18 application.

📊 How courts decide similar cases

Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:

A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.

⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this

✅ Tends to be accepted

  • The service charge must reflect actual invoices and lease terms.
  • Service charges are reasonable if they cover necessary maintenance costs.
  • Landlords can bypass consultation requirements if it is reasonable and does not cause prejudice.
  • Tenants can challenge the legality of service charges under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 s.27A.
  • Service charges should be calculated transparently and in accordance with the lease agreement.

❌ Tends to be rejected

  • If service charges are not reasonable or do not comply with the lease agreement, they may be dismissed.

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

The Tribunal adjusted the service charges based on accurate invoices and clarified the use of a reserve fund in the lease agreement.

Who was involved?

The decision involved a tenant and a landlord managing company.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court decided to adjust the service charges based on accurate invoices and clarified the use of a reserve fund to ensure fairness and adherence to lease terms.

Which laws or rules were applied?

The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 sections 19 and 27A were applied.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The argument that mattered most was the need for accurate invoices and clear definitions of the reserve fund usage.

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

The decision was for the tenant who brought the case.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation should ensure that their service charges are calculated accurately based on actual invoices and lease terms.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The invoices and lease agreement were crucial in determining the accuracy of the service charges.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, a decision like this can be appealed to a higher court.

Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?

It is recommended to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving service charges and lease agreements.

Official source: First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) headnote and full judgment reproduced from the court's public records. View on the official source ↗Summary, holding, technical summary and questions: produced by Artificial Intelligence based on the official headnote and judgment. These are VadeLab’s own material and are not the work of the Court.This decision was issued by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and is reproduced from its published records. VadeLab is not affiliated with, and this page is not endorsed by, that court or tribunal.