Facts first.
Service-charge disputes often fail because they are built on emotion or broad assumptions rather than the numbers. Our methodology focuses entirely on what the documents show, what they do not show, and what questions still need answering.
Financial review and general information only. Not legal advice.
How we approach a document review
Understand the objective
We do not review documents in a vacuum. The first step is to understand what you want to achieve, whether that is challenging a specific cost, preparing for a meeting, or simply understanding a balancing demand.
Organise the timeline
In leasehold matters, dates are often as important as the figures. We organise the available budgets, accounts, demands and correspondence into a clear chronology.
Track the figures
We extract the main figures and compare them. We look for significant increases, changes between estimated and actual costs, missing categories and unexplained differences between documents.
Check the supporting evidence
Where invoices, specifications or explanations are provided, we check whether they align with the amounts demanded. We note any clear gaps in the information provided.
Define the questions
The most valuable outcome is often a clear list of questions. The report highlights exactly what remains unclear so you can ask the managing agent or landlord for the missing information.
Professional boundaries
We believe in being clear about what a document review can and cannot achieve.
- We do not determine whether a charge is "reasonable" under Section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. That is for the Tribunal to decide.
- We do not provide statutory audits or state that accounts are free from fraud.
- We do not give surveying advice on whether building works were necessary or completed to a satisfactory standard.
- We do not act as legal representatives in correspondence or at the Tribunal.