Does anyone have any experience of arguing eligible service charges in supported (sheltered) accommodation for leaseholders. In our schemes, leaseholders are only being allowed 10% of warden/manager costs by PC, as this is their calculation of costs which are related to the provision of adequate accommodation. As we and Supporting People believe that 35% of the manager relates to support costs, this leaves 55% to be met by the leaseholder (denoted by PC as housing management tasks NOT related to provision of adequate accom. - eg carrying out the void and lettings procedure is not an allowable cost). PC also only allows part of admin/management fee in proportion to the total of specific service costs allowed - in our case this comes to about 67% paid by PC. The admin fee is actually set by a Housing Corp. formula. This leaves the leaseholder on guarantee PC with a shortfall to find to pay towards service charges, which our tenants in the same scheme do not (as HB and supporting people between them meet the total). I have two clients that are challenging the decision at tribunal and any experiences would be useful. Also, the decision maker cites CPC/1820/2005 and CPC/2574/2005 but does not include the decisions for me to look at. I am trying to ask for them, but any pointers to get them elsewhere (quicker) would be useful. Thanks!
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