Over many years of representing landlords (usually by their appointed property management company) in leasehold service charge disputes before the Tribunals, various themes have developed. One of them is my frustration, in the majority of cases, at the quality of evidence with which I must present my client's case. It actually isn't that difficult to get your best evidence before the Tribunals and secure the best possible recovery. Especially with the benefit of hindsight!

Set out below are my 'top tips' to help you collate and then present your best evidence and thus have the best of chance of recovering your service charges in full. If you instruct a property management company to fully manage your property, this can instead be taken as a list of things you should expect them to have done in the event of a dispute arising. It is always worth raising this with them before a dispute arises.