Tenant Found Liable for Service Charges Under Landlord and Tenant Act 1987
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided that the tenant must pay service charges and administration fees as specified in their lease agreement. This decision was based on the relevant acts and regulations.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is liable to pay service charges under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.
📖 Technical summary
The tribunal ruled on the tenant's liability for service charges under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined that the tenant was liable to pay service charges of £2,956.37 and administration charges of £804 under the lease dated 6 June 2018, pursuant to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 and the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
📚 Full judgment Official document
© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2025
FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)
Case Reference
:
HAV/00ML/2025/LDC/0617
Property
:
[ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
Applicant: [redacted]
[COMPANY] (landlord) Representative : [COUNSEL] ([RESPONDENT] solicitors)
Respondents
:
[redacted]
Representatives
:
[NAME]
Tribunal Member(s)
:
Judge M [NAME] [NAME] of hearing/venue
:
25 June 2025 (Brighton Tribunal Centre)
Date of decision
:
25 June 2025
DECISION NOTICE - RULE 36(2)(a)
2 Introduction
1. This is an application to determine liability to pay service charges under s.27A Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. The issues formed part of a claim for payment in the County Court (claim no. K13YX664) and they were transferred to the tribunal for determination by an order of 14 November 2024 under s.176A Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
2. The application was dealt with under flexible judicial deployment, with the Tribunal Judge sitting as a judge of the County Court to decide the aspects of the claim which were within the court’s exclusive jurisdiction.
3. A hearing took place on 25 June 2025. The applicant was represented by Ms [APPELLANT] of [APPELLANT]. The respondent was reresnted by her son, Mr [RESPONDENT] [NAME]. At the conclusion of the tribunal hearing, the tribunal gave its decision orally in accordance with Rule 36(1) of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013. [ADDRESS] then made orders consequential upon that determination.
4. This is the decision notice under Rule 36(2)(a) of the procedure rules stating the tribunal’s decision. For the avoidance of doubt, the tribunal will provide written reasons for its decision as soon as reasonably practicable, and the time for any party to apply for permission to appeal under Rule 52(2) does not run until those reasons are provided.
Decision
5. The Tribunal determines under s.27A of the 1985 Act that the respondent is liable to pay to the applicant service charges of £2,956.37 due under the lease dated 6 June 2018.
6. The Tribunal determines under para 5 of Sch.11 to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 that the respondent is liable to pay the applicant administration charges of £804 due under the lease dated 6 June 2018.
7. No order is made under s.20C Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 or under para 5A of Sch.11 to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
Tribunal Judge Mark Loveday 25 June 2025
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 8 similar decisions in this collection:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Service Charges for 2021/2022 to 2024/2025 Found Payable
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Rules on Service Charge Liability for Tenant
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Adjusts £1,274.46 Service Charge for Tenants in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £856.02 Service Charge for Flat in Liverpool
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
- Service charges are properly calculated and reasonable as defined by the lease agreement.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- Service charges are not properly calculated or reasonable as defined by the lease agreement.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The decision ruled that the tenant must pay £3760.37 in service charges and administration fees under their lease agreement.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over the payment of service charges and administration fees under the lease agreement.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant is liable for the specified charges under the lease agreement, as required by the relevant statutes.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The court applied s.27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 and para 5 of Sch.11 to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the applicability of the lease agreement and the relevant statutory provisions.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the person who brought the case, ruling that the tenant must pay the specified charges.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For someone in a similar situation, they may be required to pay service charges and administration fees as specified in their lease agreement.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents that mattered.