AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·26 March 2025

Market Rent Determination for a London Flat

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decided on the market rent for a furnished flat in London. They set the rent at £2850 per month based on their understanding of local rental values.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to a fair market rent determination under Section 22 of the Housing Act 1988, considering the property's condition and amenities.

Topics

tenancy agreementsmarket rent determination

Provisions

Housing Act 1988 s.22

📖 What the law says

Housing Act 1988 s.22

Under the Housing Act 1988, section 22 allows a tenant under an assured shorthold tenancy to apply to an appropriate tribunal for a determination of a fair market rent. However, applications cannot be made if the rent was previously determined under this section, if more than six months have passed since the start of the tenancy, or if the tenancy falls under certain conditions outlined in section 20. Additionally, the tribunal will only determine a new rent if there are enough similar properties in the area and if the current rent is significantly higher than what could reasonably be obtained.

Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a solicitor.

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined a rent of £2850 per calendar month based on the Housing Act 1988, Section 22.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined a market rent of £2850 per calendar month for a furnished flat in London, relying on expert knowledge of rental values in the area.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

Case Reference

: LON/00BK/MDR/2025/0002

Property : [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]

Tenant

: [APPELLANT]

Landlord : [APPELLANT] of Objection : 20 November 2024

Type of Application : Determination of a Market Rent section 22 of the Housing Act 1988

Tribunal

: Mr [NAME] [NAME] of Summary Reasons

: 25 March 2025

_______________________________________________

DECISION

The Tribunal determines a rent of £2850 per calendar month with effect from 2 August 2024. ____________________________________

FIRST - TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)

2 SUMMARY REASONS

Background

1. From 2 August 2024 the Landlord let the property to the Tenant for a term of one year from and including 2 August 2024 at an initial rent of £2850 per month. The tenant paid a deposit of £3288.45. The flat is said to be furnished but an inventory was not supplied.

2. On 20 November 2024 under Section 22 of the Housing Act 1988, the Tenant requested a determination of the market rent from the Tribunal The Tenant’s referral was received by the Tribunal on 20 November 2024 and therefore within the first 6 months of the tenancy.

Inspection

3. The Tribunal did not inspect the property but considered this case on the basis of the papers provided by the parties.

Evidence

4. There were no written submissions from the parties.

Determination and Valuation

5. No comparable evidence has been proved by the parties and the tribunal has relied on of our own expert, general knowledge of rental values in the area, we consider that the open market rent for the property in the condition and with the amenities the market would expect would be in the region of £2850 per calendar month.

6. The Tribunal determines a rent of £2850 per calendar month

Chairman: A Harris

Date: 25 March 2025

APPEAL PROVISIONS

These summary reasons are provided to give the parties an indication as to how the Tribunal made its decision. If either party wishes to appeal this decision, they should first make a request for full reasons and the details of how to appeal

3 will be set out in the full reasons. Any subsequent application for permission to appeal should be made on Form RP PTA.

MR22 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00BK/MDR/2025/0002

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]

Mr A [NAME]

Landlord [RESPONDENT] 38 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]

[NAME] [APPELLANT]

1. The rent is: £ 2850 Per month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3)

2. The date the decision takes effect is: 2 August 2024

*3. The amount included for services is/is

negligible/not applicable

Per

*4. Service charges are variable and are not included

5. Date assured tenancy commenced 2 August 2024

6. Length of the term or rental period Monthly

7. Allocation of liability for repairs As per tenancy agreement SS11 and 12 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985

8. Furniture provided by landlord or superior landlord As per inventory (not supplied)

9. Description of premises Second floor flat with 1 bedroom and one reception room

Chairman A Harris Date of Decision 25 March 2025

📊 How courts decide similar cases

Among 11 similar decisions in this collection:

Allowed9 cases

Dismissed1 case

First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £2330/month rent for assured tenancy in London

Allowed in Part1 case

First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £1196.25/month rent for assured tenancy in Croydon

A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.

⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this

✅ Tends to be accepted

The Tribunal determined the market rent based on its own expert knowledge of rental values in the area.
The Tribunal set the rent at £2850 per calendar month, effective from 2 August 2024.
The tenant's request for a market rent determination was made within the first six months of the tenancy.

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

The First-tier Tribunal set a monthly rent of £2850 for an assured tenancy.

What was the dispute about?

The dispute was about determining the fair market rent for an assured tenancy.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court decided to set the rent at £2850 per month based on local rental values and the condition of the property.

Which laws or rules were applied?

The Housing Act 1988 section 22 was applied.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The argument that mattered most was the fair market value of the property based on local rental values.

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

The decision was for the person who brought the case, the tenant.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation can request a determination of market rent under the Housing Act 1988.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents used.

Official source: First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — headnote and full judgment reproduced from the court's public records. View on the official source ↗Summary, holding, technical summary and questions: produced by Artificial Intelligence based on the official headnote and judgment. These are VadeLab’s own material and are not the work of the Court.This decision was issued by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and is reproduced from its published records. VadeLab is not affiliated with, and this page is not endorsed by, that court or tribunal.