Flat 29 De Havilland Building, Leigh St. High Wycombe HP11 2WP
Condition: Modern self-contained flat (c.500 sq ft) with minor but persistent disrepair, including water ingress damage to decorations and common parts.
Evidence considered
- Tenant cited ~15 similar 1-bed flats in the same and neighbouring new-build blocks, rents ranging £1095-£1350 pcm, mostly just over £1100 pcm
- Tenant cited town-wide rental data showing an average of £1164 pcm and Rightmove data showing only top 15% of flats let at or around £1300 pcm
- Tenant provided videos/photos of water ingress damage to decorations and common parts
- Landlord provided comparables from other nearby modern blocks, but some were furnished or all-inclusive of services, reducing their comparability
- Tribunal relied substantially on its own general knowledge of market rents in High Wycombe's industrial areas
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal assessed market rent using its own knowledge of High Wycombe's industrial-area new-build flat market, noting significant new supply from four overlapping developments was holding rental growth flat. It set a baseline of £1150 pcm for the flat fully fitted and in good order, then deducted £50 pcm for minor but persistent disrepair in the flat and common parts, arriving at a determined rent of £1100 pcm effective from 1 December 2024.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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