Flat 37 Hancock House, 20 Love Lane Woolwich London SE18 6GU
Condition: Modern top-floor flat in a purpose-built block, appearing in good condition with double glazing and central heating, with some minor historic defects raised by the tenant.
Evidence considered
- Tenant cited a neighbour's similar 2-bedroom flat on a lower floor renting at £1,600 pcm
- Tenant provided photographs of minor internal defects, deemed insufficient to justify a rent reduction
- Landlord submitted two agent (Mann Countrywide) market rent reports supporting £1,950 pcm or higher
- Tribunal relied substantially on its own general knowledge of market rents in the London Borough of Greenwich
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal increased the rent from £1,900 to the landlord's proposed £1,950 pcm, relying on its own knowledge of market rent levels in the London Borough of Greenwich and the landlord's agent reports on local rents, which supported this figure or higher. Minor historic disrepair raised by the tenant was found not significant or persistent enough to justify any discount from the headline rent. The tenant's claim of undue hardship was unsupported by evidence and did not affect the effective date.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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