Service Charge Disputes
When Best Practice Standards Make a Difference
The relationship between landlords and tenants does get strained; and particularly so in respect of service charges. Tenants can see it as a hidden extra set of charges; and landlords still use it to recover unplanned or otherwise unrecoverable costs. This webinar looks at the typical causes of service charge disputes, how to minimise them, and what to do when they arise.
| Start Date | Venue | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December 2022 | Virtual Seminar |
Note: All prices are to be paid in GBP and are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate
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In 2018 the Service Charge Code became an RICS Professional Statement. It mandated RICS members and firms to comply to its terms. Non members may think they can disregard the standards, but any case that ends up before a judge, the Court will compare behaviours against best practice and assess the case accordingly. At the same time, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales have introduced accounting standards on how service charge accounts should be prepared.
Yet there are still far too many instances where disputes arise.
Speakers
- Mark Shelton, Commercial Property Management Law Trainer, CPM Law Training Limited and Author of 'A Practical Guide to the Law of Dilapidations' and 'A Practical Guide to Applications for Landlords' Consent and Variation of Leases'
- Peter Forrester FRICS, Chartered Surveyor; Chair of RICS Service Charge Professional Group
- John Boulton, Policy Director, ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)
- Martin Burns BA (Hons) LLB (Hons) Barrister, Head of ADR Research and Development, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Programme
The Typical Causes of Service Charge Disputes
- Unrealistic tenants
- Inflexible/Uncommunicative landlords
- Delay in property management processes
- Errors in accounting
- Lease drafting
- Basically - not following the RICS professional statement
How the RICS Professional Statement Should Prevent or Resolve Most Disputes
- What is best practice?
- Mandatory requirements
- Core principles underpinning the mandatory requirements
- Practical guidance to achieving best practice and avoiding disputes
- Common pitfalls and poor practice to be avoided
Practical Dispute Resolution Options
- Resolution options
- With the lease silent on resolving disputes, are the Courts the right place to resolve disputes?
Account Reporting Standards Imposed
Short Takeaway Points from Recent Case Law
- Scope of ‘sweeper’ clauses
- Recovery of legal costs through the service charge
- Importance of detail in lease wording