Flat 4, Milton Grange, 6 Arundel Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 2EL
Condition: Flat with dated kitchen and bathroom and general repair issues; tenant provides white goods, carpets and curtains and is responsible for internal decoration.
Evidence considered
- Landlord submitted six comparable one-bedroom flat lettings in the vicinity ranging from £900 to £1,025 pcm, used to support a market rent assessment of £925 pcm before tenancy-specific abatements
- Landlord's Mid Tenancy Property Inspection report and EPC (rating D) considered
- Tenant did not submit a rent appeal statement but described the property's condition and improvements (fitted kitchen, kitchen floor works, additional radiators) and lack of landlord-provided white goods/fixtures in the tribunal application
- Tribunal relied on its own expert and general knowledge of local rental values in addition to the evidence submitted
Tenant submitted evidence: no. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal first assessed the market rent for the property in good tenantable condition at £950 pcm, drawing on the landlord's comparable evidence (six one-bedroom flats letting between £900-£1,025 pcm) and its own expert knowledge of the local market. It then deducted £170 pcm to reflect the tenant's provision of white goods, carpets and curtains, the tenant's responsibility for internal decoration, and the dated kitchen/bathroom and general disrepair, arriving at a determined rent of £780 pcm. The tribunal found that works carried out by the landlord were repairs it was responsible for in any event and so did not increase the rent above the base market figure.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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