71 Fountain Road, Rendlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 2UF
Condition: Tenants alleged disrepair and mould but provided no supporting evidence, so no deduction was made.
Evidence considered
- Tenants provided photographs of the property but no rental comparators
- Tenants alleged mould/disrepair and a tenant-fitted kitchen improvement, but with no supporting evidence, so no adjustment was made (and tenant improvements must be disregarded under s.14(2)(b) in any event)
- Landlord submitted no evidence
- Tribunal relied on its own knowledge and specialist expertise in absence of comparable evidence
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: no.
Tribunal's reasoning
With no comparable lettings evidence from either party, the tribunal determined the rent using its own knowledge and specialist expertise, having regard to the property's size, accommodation and condition from photographs. It found the tenants' unsupported claims of disrepair, mould, and a self-fitted kitchen did not justify any deduction, and any tenant improvement had to be disregarded under statutory assumptions. The tribunal concluded the landlord's proposed rent was not above the open market rent and determined the rent at that figure, with no adjustment to the effective date as no undue hardship was evidenced.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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