97 Churchill Road, Langley, Slough, SL3 7RD;
Condition: End terraced house with central heating and UPVC double glazing; tenant's earlier disrepair concerns (including an Improvement Notice) had been resolved save for a recently broken boiler.
Evidence considered
- Landlord submitted letting agent opinions of rental value: one suggesting a range of £1,800-£2,150pcm (asking price £1,995pcm) and another suggesting £2,000-£2,200pcm, though neither agent had inspected the property
- Landlord provided a historic Rightmove listing (Dec 2020) and listings for other comparable properties
- Both parties referred to a neighbouring property on the same road currently marketed at £1,900pcm asking rent, though the tribunal noted differences (e.g. no garage) and that it was an asking rather than agreed rent
- Tenant's evidence focused on disrepair history rather than comparable rental evidence
Tenant submitted evidence: no. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal disregarded the existing rent and the tenant's maintenance complaints as irrelevant to market rent, focusing instead on comparable evidence. It gave some weight to agents' opinions of rental value (ranges of £1,800-£2,150 and £2,000-£2,200) despite no inspection having been carried out, and considered a nearby comparable asking rent of £1,900pcm while noting differences such as the absence of a garage and that it was an asking rather than achieved rent. Weighing this evidence, the tribunal determined a market rent of £1,975pcm, below the landlord's proposed £2,050pcm.
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.