113 Northumberland Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 0ES
Condition: Property had a history of significant disrepair (damp, mould, leaks, electrical issues) which had largely but not fully been remedied by the effective date, warranting a 5% rent deduction.
Evidence considered
- Tenant submitted 5 comparable 3-bedroom properties advertised at £1,195–£1,350 pcm
- Landlord submitted 11 comparable 3-bedroom properties advertised at £1,350–£1,650 pcm
- Landlord provided a property inventory with photographs from the start of the tenancy
- Local authority remedial action notice detailing disrepair (mould, damp, rodent infestation, electrical faults) later said to be addressed
- Tribunal applied its own expert knowledge of local rental values alongside the comparables
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal assessed market rent for a 3-bedroom mid-terrace house near Southampton city centre by weighing tenant evidence (5 comparables at £1,195–£1,350 pcm) and landlord evidence (11 comparables at £1,350–£1,650 pcm) against its own expert knowledge, arriving at an open market rent in good condition of £1,450 pcm. Because the property remained in a degree of disrepair at the effective date (despite earlier more extensive defects having been remedied), the tribunal applied a 5% (£75) deduction, giving a final determined rent of £1,375 pcm effective from the date in the landlord's notice.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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