25 Hathaway Road, Croydon, CR0 2TQ
Condition: The property was found to be in fairly poor condition overall, with damp, worn kitchen and bathroom fittings, inadequate floor coverings, and an unkempt garden, attributable largely to lack of maintenance beyond normal wear and tear.
Evidence considered
- Tribunal's own knowledge and experience of the Croydon rental market used to establish an unadjusted market rent of £2,500 pcm
- Tenant provided photographic evidence of disrepair (damp, worn flooring, poor kitchen/bathroom, garden condition)
- Landlord referred to an inventory suggesting the property was in good condition at the start of the tenancy, but provided no comparable rental evidence
- Tribunal physical inspection of the property conducted on 1 August 2025
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: no.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal assessed the open market rent for the property in good condition at £2,500 pcm based on its knowledge of the Croydon rental market. It then applied a 32% deduction to reflect significant disrepair (partial double glazing, outdated kitchen and bathroom, penetrating damp, inadequate floor coverings, roof leak staining, poor decoration, and an unkempt garden with a large tree and broken fencing), arriving at a determined rent of £1,700 pcm. The increase was found not to cause undue hardship, so it took effect from the date of the landlord's original notice.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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