Tribunal Appoints Manager for Property with Maintenance Issues
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) appointed a manager for a property with maintenance issues, following an application by tenants under section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to have a manager appointed if there are issues with maintaining or repairing the property.
📖 What the law says
Under this section, a tribunal can appoint a manager to handle the management of a property when certain conditions are met. These conditions include breaches of obligations related to property management, unreasonable service charges, or failures to comply with approved codes of practice. Additionally, the tribunal must find it just and convenient to make the appointment based on all the circumstances.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a solicitor.
📖 Technical summary
The tribunal appointed a manager for the property under section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.
📜 Headnote Official document
The tribunal appointed a manager for the property at 75 White Hart Lane, London SW13 0PW under section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 due to maintenance issues. The applicant sought an order limiting the respondent's costs.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
© CROWN COPYRIGHT
FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) Case reference : LON/00BD/LAM/2025/0036 Property : 75 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE] Applicants : [redacted] Respondent : [redacted] Appointment of a Manager Tribunal : Judge Tagliavini Date of Decision : 30 March 2026
DECISION & MANAGEMENT ORDER
2 The application
1. This is an application seeking the tribunal’s appointment of a manager
of the subject property at [ADDRESS], London SW13
0PW (‘the property’) under section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act
1987 (the ‘1987 Act’). Background 2. A preliminary notice under section 22 of the Act dated 15 July 2025 was
served on the respondent alleging a failure to maintain/keep in repair
the property. 3. The applicant informed the tribunal that there are 4 leasehold titles
registered under the freehold title including Anchor Cottage at [ADDRESS] (ground and first floor), [ADDRESS] (second floor
flat), [ADDRESS] (first floor flat) and 75-[ADDRESS]
(ground floor and basement), which is currently a commercial unit let as
a gym. The hearing 4. An oral hearing was held on 30 March 2026 at which [NAME] [NAME]
appeared in person on behalf of both applicants. [NAME] [NAME] [NAME]
(Director) and [NAME] [RESPONDENT] [NAME] (Agent) appeared on behalf of the
respondent. Preliminary issues 5. The tribunal was provided with a digital bundle of 214 pages. However,
at the hearing it appeared this was not the Final Bundle relied upon by
the applicant, as this comprised 287 pages in hard copy.
Unfortunately, neither the tribunal, nor the respondent had been
provided with a copy of this Final Bundle although the applicant
confirmed it had been sent to the tribunal on 12 March 2026. 6. Notwithstanding this lack of provision of the Final Bundle to the
respondent, the applicant sought to pursue its application to debar the
respondent from playing any further part in the proceedings. However,
as [NAME] [NAME] indicated at the outset that he did not, in principle, object
to a manager being appointed, the tribunal considered there was little
prejudice to the applicant in refusing the application to debar the
respondent and unhelpful to the parties in the circumstances and to the
tribunal to do so. 7. As the parties indicated there was an agreement in principle, they were
provided with an opportunity (in private) to discuss and agree the terms
of a Management Order the applicants wished the tribunal to make. 8. Notwithstanding the parties’ agreement as to the appointment and the
majority of the terms of the proposed Management Order, the tribunal
nevertheless questioned the proposed manager [NAME] [NAME] on his
3
witness statement, in order to satisfy itself of the suitability of his
appointment. In particular, the tribunal queried [NAME] [NAME] personal
indemnity insurance provision, the scope and duration of the
Management Plan; the collection of service charges in advance for the
payment of major works; the collection of a reserve fund; any need for
the inclusion of the commercial premises due to its contribution to the
service charges in respect of the maintenance of the structure of the
property and the duration of ny Management Order. 9. The parties having agreed to the appointment of a manager and the
tribunal having satisfied itself of the suitability of [NAME] [NAME] to be the
Tribunal appointed managed, the tribunal makes the Management
Order attached to this decision with effect from the date of this Decision
for a period of four years i.e. 31 March 2026 to 30 March 2030. S.20 L&T 1985 and para 5 Sch. 11 CLARA 2002 10. The applicant made an application seeking to limit the respondent’s
costs of this application. The respondent did not object to this
application. Therefore, the tribunal determines it is just and equitable
to make an order under s.20 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and para. 5
of Schedule 11 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act limited the
respondent’s ability to add its costs of this application to the service
charges.
Name: Judge Tagliavini
Date: 31 March 2026
Rights of appeal
By rule 36(2) of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013, the Tribunal is required to notify the parties about any right of appeal they may have. 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. The application should be made on Form RP PTA available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-rp-pta-application-for- permission-to-appeal-a-decision-to-the-upper-tribunal-lands-chamber
4 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. 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 for permission to appeal to proceed, despite not being within the time limit. 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. If the Tribunal refuses to grant permission to appeal, a further application for permission may be made to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Grants Dispensation for Urgent Fire Alarm Works
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tenant Secures Manager Appointment Over Leaseholder Disputes
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Grants Dispensation for Urgent Environmental Work
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Extends Property Manager’s Appointment Until 2027
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Extends Manager’s Appointment Until June 2028 for Prope…
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Appropriate Sum for Leasehold Enfranchisemen…
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Decides on Payable Service Charges
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal rules against landlord's administration charge
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Grants Landlord Permission for Urgent Drainage Work Due…
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 tenant is entitled to a manager if there are issues with maintaining or repairing the property.
- The landlord can obtain dispensation from statutory consultation requirements when urgent works are necessary for safety.
- The tribunal can extend the appointment of a manager if it is just and convenient, especially when completing major works.
- A local authority may serve an improvement notice if there is a history of non-compliance or persistent hazards.
- Service charges used to pay legal costs incurred by the landlord are not payable by the tenant.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
It decided to appoint a manager for the property due to maintenance issues.
Who was involved?
Tenants applied, and a developer responded.
How did the court decide, and why?
The tribunal considered the suitability of the proposed manager and agreed with the appointment based on the evidence presented.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenants argued there were maintenance issues requiring a manager to be appointed.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
It was in favour of the applicants.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Tenants can apply for a property manager if there are issues with maintenance and repair.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The digital bundle provided by the applicant and the witness statement from the proposed manager were important.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, an application for permission to appeal must be made within 28 days to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor for such cases.
