Tribunal decision - energy dispensation
The information on this page applies to all Coastline Housing leaseholders and tenants who pay a service charge for gas or electricity in communal areas. If you are not sure if this applies to you, please refer to your service charge breakdown to confirm that you pay a charge for either communal gas or communal electricity
At Coastline Housing, we’re committed to keeping your homes and communal spaces running smoothly and efficiently. One of the ways we do this is by securing utility contracts, such as electricity and gas, for shared areas like stairwells, corridors, and communal lounges.
From time to time, we need to renew or change these contracts. When this happens, we act quickly to make sure we get the best possible deal for you and your neighbours.
Why we act quickly
The energy market can change rapidly, and prices can fluctuate from day to day. This means we have a limited window to secure the most competitive rates and we’re not always able to carry out a full formal consultation process.
Because of this, we applied to the First-tier Tribunal to ask their permission to not follow these rules.
The Tribunal requires that we make leaseholders aware of the outcome and inform you of your right to appeal, please see these details below.
Decision of the Tribunal
The Tribunal has granted the application for the dispensation of all or any of the consultation requirements provided for by section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (Section 20ZA of the same Act) in relation to the retendering of energy supplies to communal areas
Rights of appeal
A person wishing to appeal this decision to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) must seek permission to do so by making written application by email to rpsouthern@justice.gov.uk before the 25th September.
- The application must arrive at the Tribunal within 28 days after the Tribunal sends to the person making the application written reasons for the decision.
- If the person wishing to appeal does not comply with the 28 day time limit, the person shall include with the application for permission to appeal a request for an extension of time and the reason for not complying with the 28 day time limit; the Tribunal will then decide whether to extend time or not to allow the application for permission to appeal to proceed.
- The application for permission to appeal must identify the decision of the Tribunal to which it relates, state the grounds of appeal, and state the result the party making the application is seeking.
You can read a full copy of the Letter to Respondents and the Decision on Dispensation below.