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Service Charge CCJ Solutions for Mortgage Brokers
Help Your Clients Resolve Service Charge CCJs in 6-12 Weeks Instead of Waiting Years
You've seen this client. Perfect income, decent deposit, stable employment. Everything lined up except for one thing—a service charge CCJ. Now there's a better option than "try again in three years."
For Mortgage Brokers
The Client You Had to Decline
It's been bothering you, hasn't it?
A common Scenario for UK Mortgage Brokers
There's a file on your desk. Or maybe it's just sitting in the back of your mind. A client you had to decline three months ago.
Perfect income. Decent deposit. Stable employment. Everything lined up. And then you ran the credit check.
Service charge CCJ. £3,800. Registered eighteen months ago.
"I never understood what I was being charged for. I asked for an explanation repeatedly. Then suddenly there were solicitors involved, and I was being taken to court."
That felt different. That felt like something went wrong somewhere that had nothing to do with whether they could afford a mortgage.
11%
Service charge increase in the UK - 4x inflation rate
1 in 14
UK Landlords saw service charge increases over 21% in 2024
6-12
Weeks to resolve many cases through negotiation
30%
Higher mortgage conversion rate from broker referrals vs other channels
Why Service Charge CCJs Are Different
From Credit CCJs
Service charge CCJs arise from leasehold disputes, not inability to pay. They involve specific legal protections under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 that make them challengeable in ways credit card or loan CCJs are not.
Default Judgments Without Merit Review
Most service charge CCJs are default judgments granted automatically when leaseholders didn't respond to court papers. They weren't granted because a judge examined the charges and concluded they were fair. Default judgments can be set aside when procedural problems exist, such as papers sent to wrong addresses or Section 20 consultation failures.
Section 20 Consultation Failures
Under Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, managing agents must properly consult leaseholders before charging more than £250 per leaseholder for major works. Proper consultation requires sending notices to correct addresses, allowing contractor nominations, providing comparable estimates, and following specific timelines. When these requirements aren't met, charges may not be legally recoverable.
Charges Not in Lease
Leases are legal contracts specifying exactly what leaseholders can be charged for. Managing agents sometimes charge for services not received, work on building parts the lease doesn't include, or improvements when leases only allow maintenance. Charges outside lease scope are not legally recoverable regardless of whether a CCJ was granted.
Communication Failures By Managing Agents
Managing agents have legal obligations to respond to reasonable queries with clear information under UK leasehold law. When leaseholders ask for breakdowns and receive forty-page PDFs of scanned invoices with no context, send five emails that go unanswered, or are told to contact solicitors when asking basic questions, these communication failures indicate problematic charges.
Our Client Success Story: From £7,500 CCJ to Approved Re-mortgage in 16 Weeks
The Situation
Our client, a long-term leaseholder, owned a flat for 15 years, always paid service charges on time. Moved address and notified the managing agent in writing with confirmation received.
The Dispute
Nine months later, £7,500 service charge for major works. Breakdown was vague. Consultation process seemed rushed. Costs appeared excessive compared to similar work in neighbouring buildings.
The Escalation
Client questioned charges and requested proper documentation. Managing agent responded with generic PDFs but didn't address specific questions. Suddenly solicitors were involved.
The Default Judgment CCJ granted
Court papers sent to client's old address despite written confirmation of address change nine months earlier. Default judgment granted. £7,500 became £9,200 with legal costs. Client discovered this 18 months later when applying to re-mortgage.
Our Investigation
Section 20 consultation was defective. Notices sent to wrong addresses for multiple leaseholders. Contractor nomination window inadequate. Over half the costs weren't properly consulted on.
Outcome After 12 Weeks of Negotiation
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Charges reduced from £7,500 to £2,800 (only properly consulted costs)
-
CCJ completely removed from credit file with all three credit reference agencies
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Client's re-mortgage approved 8 months after first contact Remove CCJUK
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Mortgage broker built reputation for finding solutions others missed
Same Service Charge CCJ. Two Different Conversations.
Which broker are you?
Standard Approach
"Unfortunately, we can't proceed with your mortgage application..."
"With that CCJ on your file, we can't proceed with your application. You'll need to wait 3-6 years depending on the lender. Give me a call at some point."
Client leaves. Tries another broker or gives up on homeownership.
Client lost for years. Relationship over. No referrals generated
Partnership Approach
"Before we give up on your mortgage application, let me understand..."
"I see you have a service charge CCJ. Before we give up, I need to understand what happened. Was this from charges you disputed? Did the managing agent ever properly explain what you were paying for?"
"Here's what most people don't know—these CCJs are often challengeable. I work with a specialist who resolves these disputes. Many cases resolve in 6-12 weeks. Would you like me to introduce you?"
✓ Client loyalty built. Mortgage Approval within months. Referrals generated. Reputation enhanced
How Remove CCJUK Partnership Works
Simple, transparent, and designed to keep you at the centre of the client relationship
1
You Identify Challengeable Cases
Ask a few more questions when you see a service charge CCJ. Is it disputed? Were charges explained? Did major works have proper consultation?
2
We Assess Viability
Free consultation to review whether the case has grounds for challenge based on Section 20 failures, defective consultations, or procedural problems.
3
We Handle Process
We manage all negotiation, legal documentation, and tribunal processes if needed. You stay informed throughout.
4
You Close Mortgage
Many cases resolve in 6-12 weeks. Your client gets their mortgage. You get a loyal client who remembers you actually tried to help.
What You Gain as a Remove CCJUK Partner
For Your Clients
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A genuine path forward instead of "wait 3-6 years"
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Expert representation in service charge disputes
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Potential CCJ removal or significant charge reduction
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Faster route to mortgage approval
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Someone who understands leasehold law and Section 20 requirements
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Clear communication throughout the process
For Your Mortgage Brokerage
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Meaningful differentiation from competitors who just process applications
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Client loyalty—people remember who actually tried to help
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Retained relationships instead of losing clients for years
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Professional support for complex cases outside standard lending criteria
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Referral generation from satisfied clients
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Reputation as the broker who goes the extra mile
Questions To Ask Before Declining
Service Charge CCJ
Mortgage Applications
These five questions can identify which service charge CCJs are worth exploring
1. What were the service charges actually for?
Not just "Did you pay this?" but "What were you being charged for specifically?" Listen to how they answer—it tells you whether they understood what was being demanded.
2. Did the managing agent explain them clearly?
If your client received forty-page PDFs of scanned invoices with no context, that's not a proper explanation. That's a managing agent hoping the leaseholder gives up asking questions.
3. Did you question these charges because they seemed wrong, or because you didn't want to pay?
This distinction reveals creditworthiness. Someone questioning unexplained increases is being financially responsible. Someone avoiding payment they understand is a credit risk.
4. Did you receive the court claim at your current address?
Many default judgments happen because papers went to old addresses the leaseholder had already updated. This is a procedural failure that makes CCJs challengeable.
5. Were major works involved? Was there proper consultation?
Section 20 failures are incredibly common and make these CCJs worth challenging because the underlying charges may not have been legally recoverable in the first place.
Stop Saying "I Can't Help You" to Good Mortgage Clients
Start building partnerships that actually solve service charge CCJ problems for UK mortgage applications
0333 3444 945
Remove CCJUK
Specialist service charge dispute resolution and CCJ removal
Let's Discuss Mortgage Broker Partnership
Complete the form and we'll be in touch
to discuss how we can work together to help your mortgage clients with
service charge CCJs
Remove CCJUK
Specialist service charge dispute resolution and CCJ removal for UK mortgage applications
Serving UK mortgage brokers nationwide with Section 20 consultation challenge, default judgment appeals, and leasehold dispute negotiation
Winnie Onyekwere LLB LLM
Mediator and Negotiator For
Service Disputes-Leasehold Law Specialist
Accreditation
Chay, Managing Director
They managed to sort out the removal of a service charge and ground rent CCJ with the managing agents and from there it was easy to move on and to focus on what was necessary for our client's business to move forward. Thank you guys for managing a complex situation.
Karen
•Incredibly quick response, complete understanding of my needs and appropriate action taken for the support that was required. I would highly recommend Removal CCJ UK