The Orchard, Warrington Road, Mickle Trafford, Chester, CH2 4EA
Condition: Period detached house near Chester with 2 living rooms, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a ground-floor toilet (the landlord retains use of the loft), a garage, garden, central heating and double glazing in wooden frames; the tenant's photographs showed patched window/door frames, draughtiness requiring insulation strips, decoration/plasterwork damage from a leaking pipe, and a blown double-glazing unit.
Evidence considered
- Tenant: 4-bed detached, Upton-by-Chester, £2,500 pcm
- Tenant: 4-bed detached, Chester, £1,950 pcm
- Tenant: 4-bed detached, Mickle Trafford, £1,500 pcm
- Tenant: 4-bed detached, Chester, £2,200 pcm
- Tenant: 4-bed end-terrace townhouse, Chester, £1,500 pcm
Tenant submitted evidence: yes. Landlord submitted evidence: no.
Tribunal's reasoning
Finding the tenant's comparables relevant, though allowing for the fact they were mostly more modern properties than the older subject house, the tribunal valued the property in good letting order at £2,750 pcm, then deducted £100 for the disrepair shown in the tenant's photographs, giving £2,650 pcm — the same as the current rent, so no increase was allowed. The landlord did not respond to the application or the disrepair claims at all.
Read the original decision (PDF, GOV.UK)
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