First-tier Tribunal Adjusts Rent Due to Property Disrepair

OUTCOME: Allowed

MR22 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. HAV/21UG/MNR/2025/0616

Notice of the Tribunal Decision and Register of Rents under Assured Periodic Tenancies (Section 14 Determination)

Housing Act 1988 Section 14

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]

[NAME] Mr [RESPONDENT]

Landlord [RESPONDENT] 8 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Tenant Ms [APPELLANT]

1. The rent is: £645.00 Per Calendar Month (To exclude Water Rates and Council Tax but to include any amounts in paragraphs 3 and 4)

2. The date the decision takes effect is: 7 February 2025

3. The amount included for services is not applicable n/a Per n/a

4. Date assured tenancy commenced 7 May 2018

5. Length of the term or rental period Monthly

6. Allocation of liability for repairs Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 applies. The tenant is required to keep the property in the condition at the commencement of the term, fair wear and tear excepted.

7. Furniture provided by landlord or superior landlord None.

8. Description of premises A late Victorian/early Edwardian three-storey semi-detached house of traditional brick construction, with rendered front elevation and pitched tiled roof, which has been converted into three flats. Flat 1 is on the ground floor, accessed off the common parts and comprises, entrance hall, one reception room, kitchen, two bedrooms and one bathroom/WC. Outside – rear garden.

[NAME] of Decision 22 April 2025

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2025

FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) Case Reference : HAV/21UG/MNR/2025/0616 Property : [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE] Applicant Tenant : Ms [COUNSEL] [NAME] :

None

Respondent Landlord : [RESPONDENT] : Mr [COUNSEL] [COMPANY] of Application :

Determination of a Market Rent - sections 13 & 14 of the Housing Act 1988

Tribunal Members : Mr [NAME] Mr [NAME] of Application : 21 January 2025 Date of Decision :

22 April 2025

DECISION

The Tribunal determines a rent of £645 (Six Hundred and Forty-Five Pounds) Per Calendar Month with effect from 7 February 2025.

HAV/21UG/MNR/2025/0616 2 FULL REASONS

Background 1. On 31 December 2024 the landlord served a notice under section 13(2) of the Housing Act 1988 which proposed a new rent of £1,100 per month in place of the existing rent of £580 per month to take effect from 7 February 2025.

2. On 21 January 2025 under section 13(4) of the Housing Act 1988, the tenant referred the landlord’s notice proposing a new rent to the Tribunal for determination of a market rent. Inspection 3. The Tribunal inspected the property on 1 April 2025, following its Directions. Whereas the tenant attended the inspection, neither did the landlord, nor the landlord’s representative. 4. [ADDRESS] (‘the building’) is a late Victorian/early Edwardian three-storey semi-detached house of traditional brick construction, with rendered front elevation and pitched tiled roof. It has been converted into three flats.

5. Flat 1 (‘the property’) is on the ground floor, accessed off the common parts entrance hall and comprises, entrance hall, one reception room, kitchen, two bedrooms and one bathroom/WC. Outside there is a garden at the rear. Evidence

6. The Tribunal gave Directions dated 28 February 2025. The Tribunal directed the application to be suitable for determination on the papers, coupled with their inspection of the property.

7. The landlord’s Statement was to be sent by 13 March 2025; and the tenant’s Statement was to be sent by 26 March 2025.

8. The Tribunal has considered the Statement of Mr [NAME], undated, but given on 13 March 2025 and copied to the tenant the same day. In addition, the Tribunal has considered the Statement of Ms [NAME], also undated, but given on 21 March 2025 and copied to the landlord the same day. Both Statements were given in accordance with the Tribunal’s Directions.

9. With respect to the property, the landlord’s Statement includes the accommodation in outline, described as a two-bedroom flat, but neither a floor plan nor any photographs. The Tribunal has been provided with a copy of the tenancy agreement dated 27 April 2018, with a commencement date of 7 May 2018. The property is let unfurnished.

10. Under both ‘Improvements’ and ‘Disrepairs/Defects: Age and Condition of Bathroom and Kitchen fittings’, Mr [NAME] says, ‘’Unknown.’’

HAV/21UG/MNR/2025/0616 3 11. Under ‘Any Other Comments’, Mr [NAME] gives outline details of the property’s location in Bexhill-on-Sea, the local road network and its transport links.

12. To assist the Tribunal, Mr [NAME] has provided comparable lettings’ properties to which he has referred to reach his valuation of £1,100 per calendar month.

13. The five comparable lettings’ properties are all two-bedroom flats and are in the rental value range of £1,100 per calendar month to £1,300 per calendar month. Each is set out in a schedule with headings: Miles From Subject Property [sic], Size, Description, Other Amenities, Rent and Analysis.

14. Thereafter, Mr [NAME] has provided a ‘Rental Schedule’ given by [NAME] Group understood to be dated August 2024 for [ADDRESS]. The market rent in their schedule for Flat 1 is £1,000 per calendar month. The Tribunal understands this to be an extract from a report on the property given by [NAME] Group.

15. On 21 March 2025 the tenant gave her Statement. The Statement includes an outline description of the property, described as a one-bedroom flat with a lounge and a dining room. Ms [NAME] has provided a selection of photographs to assist the Tribunal and to present her case, with particular regard to highlight items of disrepair.

16. Ms [RESPONDENT] confirms various features set out in the landlord’s Statement but says the landlord has provided electric central heating and carpets only, where the landlord has said neither is provided.

17. Ms [RESPONDENT] goes on to confirm off-street parking is provided. From its inspection the Tribunal noted there is no off-street parking at the building.

18. Under ‘Improvements’, Ms [NAME] says the wall behind the WC was renewed approximately four years ago. The Tribunal determines the renewal of a wall is not an improvement. Ms [NAME] goes on to say new kitchen taps were fitted two to three years ago. The Tribunal determines the fitting of new kitchen taps two to three years ago does not constitute an improvement.

19. Under ‘Disrepairs/Defects: Age and Condition of Bathroom and Kitchen fittings’ Ms [NAME] has provided hand-written notes of items of disrepair under the following headings: Lounge, Bedroom, Dining Room, Kitchen, Bathroom and General.

20. The items of disrepair can be summarised as: various instances of damp penetration, a crack across the top of the bay window, a window that does not close properly, various instances of mould, rust marks have come through a carpet and unpleasant smells. Under the heading ‘General’, Ms [NAME] outlines issues with a Fire Alarm, various windows, the electrics in the kitchen, the carpets, the heating generally and for which neither have the storage heaters been checked nor serviced. The Tribunal’s summary is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

21. Under ‘Your assessment of the rental value of the property’, Ms [NAME] says she has found a few one-bedroom flats in Bexhill, all between £800-£900 pcm. All of

HAV/21UG/MNR/2025/0616 4 which are in very good condition, with well fitted bathrooms and kitchens and central heating. The Law Section 14, Housing Act 1988 - Determination of Rent by First-tier Tribunal (1) Where, under subsection (4)(a) of section 13 above, a tenant refers to a First- tier Tribunal a notice under subsection (2) of that section, the Tribunal shall determine the rent at which, subject to subsections (2) and (4) below, the Tribunal consider that the dwelling-house concerned might reasonably be expected to be let in the open market by a [NAME] under an assured tenancy-

(a) which is a periodic tenancy having the same periods as those of the tenancy to which the notice relates; (b) which begins at the beginning of the new period specified in the notice; (c) the terms of which (other than relating to the amount of the rent) are the same as those of the tenancy to which the notice relates; and (d) in respect of which the same notices, if any, have been given under any of Grounds 1 to 5 of Schedule 2 to this Act, as have been given (or have effect as if given) in relation to the tenancy to which the notice relates. (2) In making a determination under this section, there shall be disregarded-

(a) any effect on the rent attributable to the granting of a tenancy to a sitting tenant; (b) any increase in the value of the dwelling-house attributable to a relevant improvement carried out by a person who at the time it was carried out was the tenant, if the improvement- (i) was carried out otherwise than in pursuance of an obligation to his immediate landlord, or (ii) was carried out pursuant to an obligation to his immediate landlord being an obligation which did not relate to the specific improvement concerned but arose by reference to consent given to the carrying out of that improvement; and (c) any reduction in the value of the dwelling-house attributable to a failure by the tenant to comply with any terms of the tenancy.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) above, in relation to a notice which is referred by a tenant as mentioned in subsection (1) above, an improvement is a relevant improvement if either it was carried out during the tenancy to which the notice relates or the following conditions are satisfied, namely-

(a) that it was carried out not more than twenty-one years before the date of service of the notice; and (b) that, at all times during the period beginning when the improvement was carried out and ending on the date of service of the notice, the dwelling- house has been let under an assured tenancy; and

HAV/21UG/MNR/2025/0616 5 (c) that, on the coming to an end of an assured tenancy at any time during that period, the tenant (or, in the case of joint tenants, at least one of them) did not quit. (4) In this section "rent" does not include any service charge, within the meaning of section 18 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, but, subject to that, includes any sums payable by the tenant to the landlord on account of the use of furniture, in respect of council tax or for any of the matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) of that section, whether or not those sums are separate from the sums payable for the occupation of the dwelling-house concerned or are payable under separate agreements.

22. In accordance with the terms of section 14 of the Act, the Tribunal is required to determine the rent at which it considers the subject property might reasonably be expected to let on the open market, by a [NAME], under an assured tenancy, on the same terms as the tenancy. In so doing, and in accordance with the Act, the Tribunal ignores any increase in value attributable to tenant’s improvements and any decrease in value due to the tenant’s failure to comply with any terms of the tenancy.

Determination and Valuation 23. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 applies. The tenant is required to keep the property in the condition at the commencement of the term, fair wear and tear excepted.

24. After reviewing the rental values of the comparable lettings’ properties given by the landlord, what the tenant has said and of its own expert, general knowledge of rental values in the area, the Tribunal determines that the market rent for the property in good tenantable condition is £1,100 (One Thousand, One Hundred Pounds) Per Calendar Month.

25. From the Tribunal’s inspection and the evidence given by the parties in their Statements, the building in general, both internally and externally, and the property are in very poor condition, with various items of disrepair and outstanding works.

26. Whereas the tenant has confirmed heating has been provided by the landlord, there are issues with the storage heaters and their effectiveness. The carpets have been provided by the landlord too, although there are instances of no underlay and having been laid on top of previously soiled carpets.

27. The landlord describes the property as having one reception room and two bedrooms; the tenant describes the flat as having one reception room, a dining room and one bedroom. The Tribunal has determined the optimum layout of the property to be a two-bedroom flat, with the reception room at the front of the building, as per the current layout. However, this layout is not ideal with the

HAV/21UG/MNR/2025/0616 6 access to the bathroom/WC being from the rear bedroom and through the kitchen.

28. There is a garden at the rear of the building, to which the tenant of the property has sole use.

29. The Tribunal has identified Property Management issues at the building; typically, there is no Notice board in the common parts’ entrance hall to display the name of the [NAME] with their contact details and the building’s Fire Safety Certificate.

30.

Accordingly, the Tribunal has concluded adjustments are required to the market rent, which are summarised and set out in its valuation below.

31. The Tribunal’s valuation: Market rent in good condition (£ PCM)

£1,100 Less deductions (£ PCM) for: General wants of repair to the building and

£125 the property The access to the bathroom/WC £75 No Central Heating, in effect £50 The Tenant’s provision of White Goods

£30 The unmodernised bathroom/WC £75 The unmodernised kitchen £100 £455 Market rent (per calendar month) £645 32. The Tribunal therefore decided that the rent at which the property might reasonably be expected to be let in the open market by a [NAME] under the terms of this assured tenancy was £645 (Six Hundred and Forty-Five Pounds) Per Calendar Month.

33. The tenant has made no representations that the starting date for the new rent specified in the landlord’s notice would cause her undue hardship.

34.

Accordingly, the Tribunal directs that the new rent of £645 Per Calendar Month should take effect from 7 February 2025. This being the date specified in the landlord’s Notice proposing a new rent.

HAV/21UG/MNR/2025/0616 7

RIGHTS OF APPEAL

1. A person wishing to appeal this decision to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) must seek permission to do so by making written application by email to [EMAIL] to the First-tier Tribunal at the [NAME] which has been dealing with the case.

2. The application must arrive at the Tribunal within 28 days after the Tribunal sends to the person making the application written reasons for the decision.

3. If the person wishing to appeal does not comply with the 28 days’ time limit, the person shall include with the application for permission to appeal a request for an extension of time and the reason for not complying with the 28 days’ time limit; the Tribunal will then decide whether to extend time or not to allow the application for permission to appeal to proceed.

4. The application for permission to appeal must identify the decision of the Tribunal to which it relates, state the grounds of appeal, and state the result the party making the application is seeking.