Landlords and managing agents should be made aware of an Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) decision in favour of a residential tenant who challenged water charges recovered through her service charge. In this case, the landlord had been put on notice that the water charges were excessive and that something was wrong with the readings provided by the central meter for the building, but it failed to adequately address the issue. Usually, with metered utilities, landlords and their managing agents might think that they can rely entirely on the meter reading. This decision indicates that they cannot necessarily do so.
Although this case concerned water charges, this decision could be used in support of challenges to other utilities costs recovered through the service charge where the meter readings are considered to be excessively high. Landlords should also note that, once there was evidence that the charges were unusually high, the onus shifted to the landlord to show that the costs had been reasonably incurred.
A checklist which explains what a service charge is, when consultation is required, what the penalties are for failing to comply with the consultation requirements and what the time limits are for making service charge demands can be provided on request. Please contact me for further details.
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