5 Stafford Court, 107 Edward Street, Brighton BN2 0BB
Condition: First floor flat in a 1970s block, with dated internal decoration (kitchen/bathroom) and a replaced washing machine.
Evidence considered
- Landlord provided tenancy agreements and EPCs for four comparable flats in the same building (9, 7, 14 and 1 Stafford Court), with rents of £980-£990 pcm, given significant weight as compelling evidence.
- Tenant's suggested comparables (£800-£925 pcm) were in a different area and given no weight.
- Tribunal used its own expertise/general knowledge of local rental values to set a baseline market rent before condition adjustments.
- Deductions of £50 pcm for dated internal decoration and £10 pcm for tenant-funded washing machine replacement were applied to the starting rent.
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal found the landlord's comparables from the same building (rents £980-£990 pcm) to be compelling evidence of market rent, whereas the tenant's comparables were discounted as being in a different area. Starting from a baseline of £990 pcm (reflecting a modernised, good-order equivalent), the tribunal deducted £50 for the dated state of internal decoration and £10 for the tenant's evidenced replacement of a faulty washing machine, arriving at £930 pcm. The tenant's claim of undue hardship to delay the effective date was rejected due to lack of supporting evidence and because the determined rent was only marginally above the local housing allowance.
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.