Apartment 7 1 Woodbrook Grove Northfield Birmingham, B31 2FP
Condition: Modernised first-floor flat in a modern development, though tenant reported issues including an old electric boiler, lukewarm shower water, high electricity bills, and a faulty gate fob.
Evidence considered
- Tenant submitted seven comparable properties ranging from £1,000-£1,100 pcm, but landlord argued most were unupgraded and on ground floors, making them less desirable.
- Landlord submitted one comparable property on Middleton Drive, Northfield, offered at £1,075 pcm, citing £25,000 spent on refurbishment of the subject property (though proof of this spend was disputed by the tenant).
- Tribunal relied on its own expert knowledge of local rental values alongside the landlord's comparable in reaching its figure.
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
No hearing or inspection was held; the matter was decided on the papers (MR1/MR2/MR3 forms). The Tribunal weighed the tenant's lower comparables (largely unupgraded/ground floor) against the landlord's single comparable and claimed refurbishment spend, and used its own expert knowledge of local rental values to conclude the market rent for the property if modernised and in good order, with white goods and curtains provided, would be £1,150 pcm — matching the landlord's proposed figure.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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