102B Tideswell Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3RT
Condition: Converted Victorian first-floor flat with kitchen/bathroom refurbished around 11 years prior, noisy heating and some defective double-glazed seals, lacking landlord-provided white goods other than oven/hob.
Evidence considered
- Landlord submitted a schedule of 16 two-bedroom flats in the area ranging from £1,050 to £1,595 per month (average £1,225), but given limited weight as it lacked precise addresses, floor areas, fittings or detail on purpose-built vs converted status
- Tenant submitted no comparable evidence
- Tribunal relied on its own inspection (external, with photographs and floor plan in lieu of full internal access) and professional judgement of the local Eastbourne market
- General reference to Rightmove data showing rising average rents in Eastbourne due to restricted supply
Tenant submitted evidence: no. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The Tribunal started from a notional achievable rent of £1,000 pcm for the property in good condition with modern kitchen/bathroom fittings, carpets, curtains and white goods, based on the landlord's (limited-weight) comparable schedule and its own market knowledge of Eastbourne. It then deducted £50 pcm to reflect the tenant's provision of white goods (other than oven/hob) and curtains, but declined to deduct further for alleged heating noise due to insufficient evidence, arriving at a determined rent of £950 pcm effective from the date in the landlord's notice.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
Want the evidence, not just the decision?
Around half of the decisions in this database cite a problem with the evidence submitted — comparable tribunal outcomes are usually what decides these cases, for both sides. We're testing a paid evidence pack and a guided walkthrough of the application, built from this database.
Landlord evidence pack — from £15
Nearby tribunal outcomes, a rent level likely to survive a challenge, and an evidence pack in the format the tribunal expects — timed for when you serve a section 13 notice.
Register interest in the landlord packTenant pack — from £19
Whether challenging your rent increase is worth it, plus the comparable decisions to include with your MR1 application to the tribunal.
Register interest in the tenant packNot built yet — register your interest by email and we'll let you know when it's ready. This isn't legal advice; see the law and free advice options.