Your lease tells you what a landlord can demand you to pay in the service charge for. If it is not in the lease, there is no obligation to pay it.
Both you and your landlord have the right to ask a First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) whether a charge, or a proposed charge, is reasonable – even after a Section 20 consultation.
You can apply to the Tribunal whether or not:
- you have already paid the charge
- the landlord has already incurred costs for works or services
- it is about an estimate or budget
You cannot apply if you have agreed or admitted responsibility for paying the charges, or if a court, tribunal or arbitrator has already decided on the matter.
The Tribunal can decide:
- whether you have to pay the service charge
- who you have to pay
- when you have to pay it
- how you pay it – for example, by direct debit or standing order
If you are considering legal action, you should get advice from a solicitor. There are other ways to resolve disputes without going to Tribunal, such as through mediation.
More information you might find useful:
- What are the alternatives to going to a Tribunal?: FAQ
- Application to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber): advice guide
- Application Form – Application for a Determination of Liability to Pay and Reasonableness of Service Charges: download
- More Frequently Asked Questions on Application to the Tribunal
- More Frequently Asked Questions on Service Charges
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