A landlord who attempted to increase a tenant's rent in London instead saw the figure reduced by the First-tier Tribunal. The tenant, who had been paying £2,066 a month, faced a proposed increase to £2,475, but the tribunal determined the rent at £1,950.
This case is one of 25 published decisions reviewed by property lawyer David Smith, covering notices served since the new Renters' Rights Act regime began. While half of the 24 cases where a rent was determined resulted in landlords receiving their full requested increase, six landlords received 25% or less of what they sought, and two secured no increase.
Mr Smith noted that landlords often provided limited evidence, with 10 offering no comparable rent evidence or only general market assertions. He advises landlords and agents to provide dated evidence of achieved rents from comparable properties rather than relying solely on advertised figures.
Early decisions have also highlighted procedural errors, such as a Sheffield case being struck out for failing to provide the required two months' notice. Fourteen tenants claimed undue hardship, with two successfully securing a postponement of the new rent.