141 Levita House, Chalton Street, London, NW1 1HR
Condition: Ground floor flat with reported mould, damp and water leak damage affecting kitchen and bathroom.
Evidence considered
- Tenant submitted six undetailed 'snap shot' comparables of one-bedroom flats in the Euston area, given limited weight due to lack of letting details
- Landlord submitted no comparable evidence
- Tribunal relied on its own expert knowledge of rental values in the Euston area plus Rightmove research
- Tenant provided photographic evidence of disrepair (mould, damp, water leaks) leading to a condition deduction
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: no.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal assessed the open-market rent for the property if modernised and in good condition at £1,800 pcm, based on its own expert knowledge of the Euston rental market, Rightmove data, and limited-weight comparable evidence from the tenant. It then deducted £200 to reflect the property's actual condition, including reported mould, damp and water leak damage, arriving at a market rent of £1,600 pcm. Due to evidence of undue hardship from the tenant's reliance on Universal Credit and PIP, the tribunal set the new rent to take effect from the date of its decision rather than the date in the landlord's notice.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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