89 Scholars View, Easington Lane, Houghton le Spring DH5 0NZ
Condition: Well-maintained three-bedroom terrace house built around 2021, in reasonable order with no disrepair.
Evidence considered
- Landlord's agent provided a table of 12 comparable properties in the same estate, 10 of identical floor area all let at £925pcm, and 2 slightly larger let at £935/£950pcm, given significant weight
- Landlord's agent also submitted 7 further comparables from the wider local market supporting the asking rent
- Tenant submitted Rightmove listings for four local 3-bed houses ranging from £650-£850pcm asking rent, and argued market range was £750-£900pcm
- Tribunal also applied its own knowledge and experience of local market rents
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal found the landlord's section 13 notice valid and proceeded to determine market rent under section 14, finding no tenant improvements or landlord neglect requiring adjustment. It preferred the landlord's detailed comparable evidence, showing ten near-identical properties on the same estate all let at £925pcm, over the tenant's more limited and lower comparables, concluding the evidence overwhelmingly supported a market rent of £925pcm with no adjustments and no evidence of undue hardship.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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