Rent Determination for Assured Tenancy in LB Ealing
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on the rent for an assured periodic tenancy in LB Ealing. The rent was set at £950 per month, effective from May 7th, 2025. This decision was based on the current market rent levels and the condition of the property.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a rent set at a level reasonably expected to let in the open market, ignoring increases due to tenant's improvements or decreases due to tenant's failures.
📖 What the law says
Under this rule, a tenant can apply to a tribunal to challenge the rent payable under their assured tenancy. The tribunal will determine the rent based on what a willing landlord would expect to receive for letting the property in the open market. This determination ignores any changes in the property's value due to improvements made by the tenant or failures to comply with the tenancy terms.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a solicitor.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined the rent for an assured periodic tenancy in LB Ealing.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined the rent for an assured periodic tenancy in LB Ealing, setting the rent at £950 per month, effective from May 7th, 2025. The decision was based on the open market rent levels and the condition of the property.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
MR22 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AJ/MNR/2025/0793
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 Room at 33 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
[NAME]
Landlord [APPELLANT]
[APPELLANT] [NAME]
1. The rent is: £ 950 Per Calendar month
2. The date the decision takes effect is: 7 May 2025
*3. The amount included for services is Nil Per
*4. Service charges are variable and are not included N/A
5. Date assured tenancy commenced 7 April 2024
6. Length of the term or rental period Calendar monthly periodic
7. Allocation of liability for repairs Per tenancy
8. Furniture provided by landlord or superior landlord Bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers
9. Description of premises A room in a 4 bedroom purpose built flat in a block of 1930’s flats. 4 levels, flat roof brick walls.. Property is room with shared use of living room, bathroom/wc, kitchen of a 4 bedroom flat, all Bills included, council tax, water, electric etc... The Landlord may charge a rent up to but, not in excess of the figure shown at box 1.
[NAME] of Decision 28 August 2025
© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2013
FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) Case Reference : LON/00AJ/MNR/2025/0793 Property : Rm, at 33 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE] Applicant: [redacted] : None Respondent : [redacted] Representative : None Type of Application : Section 13(4) Housing Act 1988 Tribunal Members :
[NAME] and venue of Hearing : 10 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE] Date of Decision : 28 August 2025
REASONS FOR DECISION
Background
1 The First Tier Tribunal received an application dated 12 April 2025 from the [APPELLANT] of the Property, regarding a notice of increase of rent served by the landlord, under S.13 of the Housing Act 1988 (the Act).
2 The notice, dated 4 April 2025, proposed a new rent of £956 per calendar month (including all bills) with effect from and including 7 May 2025. The passing rent was said to be £891 pcm.
2 3 The tenancy is an assured periodic weekly tenancy. A copy of the last tenancy agreement was provided. It ran from 7 April 2024.
4 Directions dated 3 July 2025 were issued representations on the substantive issue of the new rent. Neither party requested a hearing. The Tribunal does not routinely carry out inspections.
5 The Tribunal carefully considered and noted such representations as it received from both parties and the location layout size and condition of the Property and other available and let comparable properties nearby.
Property
6 The Property is one room within a purpose 4 bedroom flat, itself within a purpose built block of 1930’s flats on 4 levels within an established residential estate of similar blocks within LB Ealing. Accommodation is on one level, 4 bedrooms, shared bathroom/wc, reception room, kitchen, and external areas. The building has fair faced brick external walls and a flat roof over. (Google Streetview September 2022).
7 The Tribunal assumes that Property and furniture in the exclusive and shared areas were let in fair to good condition and that all services provided are reliable and of a modern specification for the market.
Law
8 In accordance with the terms of S14 of the Housing Act 1988 we are required to determine the rent at which we consider the property might reasonably be expected to let in the open market, by a willing landlord, under an assured tenancy, on the same terms as the actual tenancy; ignoring any increase in value attributable to [APPELLANT]’s improvements and any decrease in value due to the [APPELLANT]’s failure to comply with any terms of the tenancy. Thus the Property falls to be valued as it stands; assuming it to be in reasonable internal decorative condition.
Decision
9 Based on the Tribunal’s own general knowledge of market rent levels in LB Ealing determines that the subject Property would let on a normal Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) terms, for £950 per calendar month (including all bills for reliable services provision at and to the Property), fully fitted and in good order.
10 The new rent will therefore be £950 per calendar month with effect from 7 May 2025. The Landlord is not obliged to charge this sum and may charge a significantly lower rent as a result of their own choice, policy, or governmental regulation. They may not however, charge a rent in excess of it.
Name: N. [NAME]: 28 August 2025
3
Rights of appeal
By rule 36(2) of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013, the tribunal is required to notify the parties about any right of appeal they may have.
If either party is dissatisfied with this decision, they may apply for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) on any point of law arising from this Decision.
Prior to making such an appeal, an application must be made, in writing, to this Tribunal for permission to appeal. Any such application must be made within 28 days of the issue of this decision to the person making the application (regulation 52 (2) of The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rule 2013).
If the application is not made within the 28-day time limit, such application must include a request for an extension of time and the reason for not complying with the 28 day time limit; the tribunal will then look at such reason(s) and decide whether to allow the application for permission to appeal to proceed, despite not being within the time limit.
The application for permission to appeal must identify the decision of the tribunal to which it relates (i.e., give the date, the property, and the case number), state the grounds of appeal and state the result the party making the application is seeking.
If the tribunal refuses to grant permission to appeal, a further application for permission may be made to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Rent Reduced for Tenant Due to Property Condition
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Reduces Proposed Rent Increase for Assured Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Rent for Assured Periodic Tenancy Based on Market Conditions
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets New Rent for Assured Periodic Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets New Rent for Assured Tenancy Based on Market Value
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Rent for Assured Periodic Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Adjusts Rent Based on Property Condition
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Rent Adjustment for Assured Tenancy - First-tier Tribunal Decision
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Rent Determination for Assured Tenancy - First-tier Tribunal Decision
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Adjusts Market Rent Based on Property Condition
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tenant Wins Rent Adjustment Based on Property Condition
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Rent for Assured Shorthold Tenancy
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
- Rent should reflect the open market value of the property.
- Rent adjustments should consider the condition of the property.
- Improvements made by the tenant should not increase the rent.
- Failures by the tenant should not decrease the rent.
- Rent should be adjusted based on market comparables.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The rent for an assured periodic tenancy was set at £950 per month.
Who was involved?
The tenant and the landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided based on the open market rent levels and the condition of the property.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Housing Act 1988 section 14 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the current market rent levels and the condition of the property.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the tenant.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should consider the current market rent levels and the condition of their property when determining rent.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Evidence and documents related to the property's condition and market rent levels mattered.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, a decision like this can be appealed to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is always recommended to seek advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving rent determination.
