Unit 1, 2B Mountbatten Close, Gipsy Hill, SE19 1AP LON/00AY/MNR/2025/0821
FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL
PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)
Case No LON/00AY/MNR/2025/0821
Between
Mr Paul GrantApplicantMaurice Laurent LtdRespondentMr Paul GrantTenantMaurice Laurent LtdLandlord
Before
Mr A Harris LLM FRICS FCIArbDate 8 September 2025Property: Unit 1, 2B Mountbatten Close, Gipsy, Hill, SE19 1AP
DECISION
[1]The Tribunal determines a rent of £855.00 per calendar month exclusive of service charges with effect from 8 September 2025. ____________________________________[3]FIRST - TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)
REASONS
[1]On 9 May 2025 the Landlord served a notice under Section 13(2) of the Housing Act 1988 which proposed a new rent of £ 1295.00 in place of the existing rent of £ 850.00 per month to take effect from 16 June 2025.[2]On 17 May 2025 under Section 13(4)(a) 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. The Tenant’s referral was received by the Tribunal on 17 May 2025. 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]The Tribunal has considered the written submissions provided by the parties.[5]Comparables were provided by both parties.[6]The Landlord’s comparables consisted of an address, rent and photograph but no other details and are of little assistance.[7]The tenant provided 7 sets of details of studios over a wide area surrounding the subject property at rents ranging fron£790 per month to £1000 per month.• Grange Road, a studio, unfurnished with cramped ,poor quality but private kitchen. No heating. £1000 pcm.• Selhurst Rd, 2nd floor studio shower cubicle, kitchenette, WC outside the room, electric heating. Rent includes council tax and water rates. £790 pcm.• Blythe Road, too far away, studio, no central heating £900 pcm• Conyers Rd, studio with kitchenette and shower room. Not clear if heating,£925 pcm• Cranston Rd studio room, no heating, no mention of kitchen, £950 pcm• Rosendale Rd, studio with kitchenette, bathroom, central heating and double glazing, £950 pcm• Broxholm Rd large studio, newly refurbished, central heating, separate kitchen £975 pcm 3 Determination and Valuation[8]In addition to the comparable evidence provided by the parties, 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 the market would expect and fully self contained would be in the region of £950 per calendar month. From this we have made a deduction for the shared kitchen and lack of heating, double glazing, carpets, curtains and white goods. Our valuation is Decision[9]The Tribunal therefore determined that the rent at which the subject property might reasonably be expected to be let in the open market by a willing Landlord under an assured tenancy was £855.00 per calendar month.[10]The Tribunal directs the new rent of £855.00 to take effect on 8 September 2025. The Tribunal was satisfied that a starting date of that specified in the Landlord’s notice would cause the tenant undue hardship. Chairman: A Harris Date: 8 September 2025 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 a party wishes to appeal this decision to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), then a written application for permission must be made to the First-tier Tribunal at the Regional Office which has been dealing with the case. The application should be made on Form RP PTA available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-rp-pta-application-for- permission-to-appeal-a-decision-to-the-upper-tribunal-lands-chamber PCM AST Market rent 950.00 £ less shared kitchen 10.0% 95.00 -£ 855.00£ 4 The application for permission to appeal must arrive at the Regional Office within 28 days after the Tribunal sends written reasons for the decision to the person making the application. 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. Please note that if you are seeking permission to appeal against a decision made by the Tribunal under the Rent Act 1977, the Housing Act 1988 or the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, this can only be on a point of law. If the First-tier Tribunal refuses to grant permission to appeal, a further application for permission may be made to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).