Room 4, 52 Church Street Chadsmoor, Cannock WS11 2DW
Condition: Unfurnished single room in an HMO with reported disrepair including a non-working boiler and a leaking shower.
Evidence considered
- Tenant's evidence of an advertised furnished double bedroom with ensuite in the same postcode at approximately £625 pcm, considered a superior comparable
- Landlord submitted no comparable evidence to support the proposed increase
- Tribunal relied on its own knowledge and expertise of local rental values
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: no.
Tribunal's reasoning
The landlord proposed increasing the rent from £500 to £685 pcm for a single room in an HMO. The tenant referred the notice to the tribunal and submitted evidence that a furnished double room with ensuite in better condition in the same postcode was advertised at about £625 pcm, and highlighted unrepaired defects (non-working boiler, leaking shower). The landlord provided no comparable evidence. Based on the tenant's comparable and its own knowledge of local rental values, the tribunal determined an open market rent of £520 pcm for the property in good tenantable condition, with no further adjustments, effective from the date of the tribunal's decision due to tenant hardship.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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