Flat 1, 18 Manor Road, Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon PL1 1TL
Condition: Purpose-built ground floor flat with double glazing and gas central heating, but suffering external render disrepair, a defective entrance door, a corroded fire escape, and rot to floorboards.
Evidence considered
- Landlord evidence that a similar flat (Flat 6) in the same block was let in October 2024 at £625 per month, given weight as a direct comparable.
- Tenant evidence of a neighbour paying £575 per month (increased from £550), considered but not decisive.
- Tribunal's own general knowledge and expertise of rental values in the Plymouth area, used to set a baseline market rent of £685 pcm before condition adjustments.
- Photographic evidence from both parties regarding condition of the property and building.
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal started from an estimated open-market rent of £685 pcm for the flat if modernised and in good condition, based on its own knowledge of the Plymouth market and landlord evidence of a comparable flat in the same block let at £625 pcm. It then deducted £60 to reflect disrepair issues raised by the tenant (crumbling external render, defective front door, corroded fire escape, rot to floorboards), arriving at a market rent of £625 pcm. The tenant's claim of undue hardship to delay the rent increase was rejected due to lack of supporting evidence.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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