Housing Act 1996

83 Determination of reasonableness of service charges.E+W

F1(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)In the Schedule to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, for paragraph 8 (right to challenge landlord’s choice of insurers) substitute—

“8(1)This paragraph applies where a tenancy of a dwelling requires the tenant to insure the dwelling with an insurer nominated by the landlord.

(2)The tenant or landlord may apply to a county court or leasehold valuation tribunal for a determination whether—

(a)the insurance which is available from the nominated insurer for insuring the tenant’s dwelling is unsatisfactory in any respect, or

(b)the premiums payable in respect of any such insurance are excessive.

(3)No such application may be made in respect of a matter which—

(a)has been agreed or admitted by the tenant,

(b)under an arbitration agreement to which the tenant is a party is to be referred to arbitration, or

(c)has been the subject of determination by a court or arbitral tribunal.

(4)On an application under this paragraph the court or tribunal may make—

(a)an order requiring the landlord to nominate such other insurer as is specified in the order, or

(b)an order requiring him to nominate another insurer who satisfies such requirements in relation to the insurance of the dwelling as are specified in the order.

(5)Any such order of a leasehold valuation tribunal may, with the leave of the court, be enforced in the same way as an order of a county court to the same effect.

(6)An agreement by the tenant of a dwelling (other than an arbitration agreement) is void in so far as it purports to provide for a determination in a particular manner, or on particular evidence, of any question which may be the subject of an application under this paragraph.”.

F2(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)For section 20C of the M1Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (limitation of service charges: costs of court proceedings) substitute—

“20C Limitation of service charges: costs of proceedings.

(1)A tenant may make an application for an order that all or any of the costs incurred, or to be incurred, by the landlord in connection with proceedings before a court or leasehold valuation tribunal, or the Lands Tribunal, or in connection with arbitration proceedings, are not to be regarded as relevant costs to be taken into account in determining the amount of any service charge payable by the tenant or any other person or persons specified in the application.

(2)The application shall be made—

(a)in the case of court proceedings, to the court before which the proceedings are taking place or, if the application is made after the proceedings are concluded, to a county court;

(b)in the case of proceedings before a leasehold valuation tribunal, to the tribunal before which the proceedings are taking place or, if the application is made after the proceedings are concluded, to any leasehold valuation tribunal;

(c)in the case of proceedings before the Lands Tribunal, to the tribunal;

(d)in the case of arbitration proceedings, to the arbitral tribunal or, if the application is made after the proceedings are concluded, to a county court.

(3)The court or tribunal to which the application is made may make such order on the application as it considers just and equitable in the circumstances.”.

(5)In section 38 of the M2Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (minor definitions), at the appropriate place insert—

““arbitration agreement”, “arbitration proceedings” and “arbitral tribunal” have the same meaning as in Part I of the M3Arbitration Act 1996;”.

(6)In section 39 of that Act (index of defined expressions), at the appropriate place insert—