[2025] UKUT 115 (LC)

Case No: LC-2024-000375

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPEAL AGAINST A DECISION OF THE FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL (PROPERTY CHAMBER)

FTT Ref: LON/OOBG/LSC/2023/0098

The Rolls Building

7 Rolls Buildings

Fetter Lane

London

EC4A 1NL

8^th April 2025

TRIBUNALS, COURTS AND ENFORCEMENT ACT 2007

LANDLORD AND TENANT – FTT PROCEDURE – new issue raised by First-tier Tribunal at the beginning of hearing to determine reasonableness of service charges - unfair conduct of hearing leading to the appearance of bias – decision of the First-tier Tribunal to admit new issue and give directions for its determination set aside

BETWEEN:

SOVEREIGN NETWORK HOMES

(formerly known as Network Homes Limited)

Appellant

-and-

(1) DR SHOGHIK HAKOBYAN AND OTHERS

(2) CUDWEED MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED

Respondents

203 Cudweed Court,

2 Watergate Walk,

London, E14 9XH

The Chamber President, Mr Justice Edwin Johnson

4^th March 2025

Justin Bates KC and Katherine (Kate) Traynor, instructed directly by Sovereign Network Homes’ internal legal department, for the Appellant

Dr Shoghik Hakobyan and Ms Claudia Labruzzo appeared in person, for themselves and the remainder of the First Respondents/Applicants

The Second Respondent did not appear and was not represented

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2025

The following cases are referred to in this decision:

Serafin v Malkiewicz [2020] UKSC 23 [2020] 1 WLR 2455

Thirty One Crescent Grove Ltd v Atherden [2024] UKUT 80 (LC)

Birmingham City Council v Keddie [2012] UKUT 323 (LC)

Admiralty Park Management Company Limited v Olufemi Ojo [2016] UKUT 421 (LC)

Regent Management Limited v Jones [2012] UKUT 369 (LC)

Bucklitsch v Merchant Exchange Management Company Limited [2016] UKUT 527 (LC)

32 St John’s Road (Eastbourne) Management Company Limited v Gell [2021] EWCA Civ 789 [2021] 1 WLR 6094

Moustache v Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2025] EWCA Civ 185

Peabody Trust v Welstead [2024] UKUT] 41 (LC)

M&P Enterprises Limited v Norfolk Square (Northern Section) Limited [2018] EWHC 2665 (Ch)

Re G (A Child) [2015] EWCA Civ 834

Bubbles & Wine Ltd v Lusha [2018] EWCA Civ 468