Flat 902, Berry Court, St Peters Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 2LG
Condition: Modern purpose-built flat (built 2018) with central heating and double glazing; tenant raised various disrepair and amenity complaints but tribunal made no deductions for these.
Evidence considered
- Landlord submitted a Rightmove search of 54 comparable properties ranging from £1350 to £2450 per month
- Tenant submitted analysis of 32 properties in the area and local rental trend data showing average 2-bed flat rent of around £1060 per month
- Tribunal noted neither party's evidence showed settled (as opposed to asking) rents, limiting reliability
- Tribunal relied on its own expert knowledge of local rental values alongside the submitted comparables
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: yes.
Tribunal's reasoning
The tribunal determined the market rent by weighing comparable evidence from both parties against its own expert knowledge, noting neither side's comparables showed actual settled rents. It considered the lack of a private balcony was offset by greater floor space than other flats in the block, and that car parking added rental value regardless of its cost to the landlord. Tenant complaints about condition, noise, and security were found to be either common to the area (reflected in comparables) or also present in comparable properties, so no deduction was made, resulting in the landlord's proposed rent of £1285 pcm being adopted.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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