Southampton City Council (202431015)

Background

1. The resident is a leaseholder of the landlord. The property is served by a district heating network, shared by over 200 other properties. The cost of the resident’s energy is paid for by way of monthly service charges. The resident complained that the level of these charges was too high and that the way the charges were calculated was unreasonable.

What the complaint is about

2. The complaint is about the level and reasonableness of the heating and heating administration portion of the resident’s service charges.

Our decision (determination)

3. The complaint about the level and reasonableness of the heating and heating administration portion of the resident’s service charges is outside of our jurisdiction to consider.

Summary of reasons

4. We may not investigate complaints about the level or reasonableness of service charges. The resident’s complaint is that the level of the charge apportioned to his property is too high and that the costs charged for the administration of heating and hot water is unreasonable. The courts or first-tier tribunal are best placed to consider the resident’s concerns. For this reason, we have not investigated the complaint.