Nicola Al Nazli:ApplicantLondon and Quadrant Housing TrustRespondent
Before
Mr A Harris LLM FRICS FCIArbIn Person for the ApplicantMr J Doran Market Rent under s22 of the for the RespondentDate 28 July 2021Property: Richmond, Surrey, TW9 2PNType of application: Housing Act 1988
DECISION
Covid-19 pandemic: description of hearing This has been a remote hearing which has been consented to by the parties. The form of remote hearing was P:PAPERREMOTE. A face-to-face hearing was not held because it was not practicable and all issues could be determined on paper. The documents that I was referred to are the tenancy agreement, the application and covering correspondence from the parties the contents of which the tribunal have noted Decisions of the tribunal(1) Pursuant to section 22(2)(aa) the tribunal determines that it does not have jurisdiction to deal with this application. The tribunal cannot consider an application made more than 6 months after the commencement of the original tenancy.(2) The tribunal makes the determinations as set out under the various headings in this decision. The application[1]The applicant seeks a determination pursuant to section 22 of the Housing Act 1988 following the renewal of an assured shorthold tenancy for a term of one year from 20 September 2020 at a rent of £2100 per month. The original tenancy was for a term of one year from 20 September 2018. Background[2]By a tenancy agreement dated 21 October 2020 the landlord renewed the tenancy of the subject property to the tenant.[3]On 8 December 2020 the Tenant applied to the tribunal for determination of a rent under section 22 of the Housing Act 1988. The application was resubmitted on 23 March 2021. The property[4]Carna Court is a 1960’s block of 18 flats facing a main road with a bus stop outside. The block has a lift.[5]The flat is a 3 bedroom duplex flat providing reasonably spacious accommodation located on the top floors and into the roof space.[6]The tenants reply form complains of disrepair at the property.[7]It is not the function of this tribunal to resolve this issue. The Law[8]Under section 22(2)(aa) an application to the tribunal must be made within 6 months of the commencement of the tenancy or of the original tenancy.[9]The original tenancy commenced on 20 September 2018 and the application is therefore made more than 6 months after the commencement of the original tenancy and the tribunal therefore does not have jurisdiction. Name: A P Harris LLM FRICS FCIArb Valuer Chair Date: 28 July 2021 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 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. If the tribunal refuses to grant permission to appeal, a further application for permission may be made to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). Housing Act 1988 22 Reference of excessive rents to [F1appropriate tribunal]. (1)Subject to section 23 and subsection (2) below, the tenant under an assured shorthold tenancy F2. . . may make an application in the prescribed form to [F3the appropriate tribunal] for a determination of the rent which, in [F4the appropriate tribunal’s] opinion, the landlord might reasonably be expected to obtain under the assured shorthold tenancy. (2)No application may be made under this section if— (a)the rent payable under the tenancy is a rent previously determined under this section; F5. . . [F6(aa)the tenancy is one to which section 19A above applies and more than six months have elapsed since the beginning of the tenancy or, in the case of a replacement tenancy, since the beginning of the original tenancy; or] (b)the tenancy is an assured shorthold tenancy falling within subsection (4) of section 20 above (and, accordingly, is one in respect of which notice need not have been served as mentioned in subsection (2) of that section). (3)Where an application is made to [F7the appropriate tribunal] under subsection (1) above with respect to the rent under an assured shorthold tenancy, [F8the appropriate tribunal] shall not make such a determination as is referred to in that subsection unless they consider— (b)that the rent payable under the assured shorthold tenancy in question is significantly higher than the rent which the landlord might reasonably be expected to be able to obtain under the tenancy, having regard to the level of rents payable under the tenancies referred to in paragraph (a) above. (4)Where, on an application under this section, [F9the appropriate tribunal] make a determination of a rent for an assured shorthold tenancy— (a)the determination shall have effect from such date as [F10the appropriate tribunal] may direct, not being earlier than the date of the application; (b)if, at any time on or after the determination takes effect, the rent which, apart from this paragraph, would be payable under the tenancy exceeds the rent so determined, the excess shall be irrecoverable from the tenant; and (c)no notice may be served under section 13(2) above with respect to a tenancy of the dwelling-house in question until after the first anniversary of the date on which the determination takes effect. (5)Subsections (4), (5) and (8) of section 14 above apply in relation to a determination of rent under this section as they apply in relation to a determination under that section and, accordingly, where subsection (5) of that section applies, any reference in subsection (4)(b) above to rent is a reference to rent exclusive of the amount attributable to rates. [F11(5A)Where— (a)an assured tenancy ceases to be an assured shorthold tenancy by virtue of falling within paragraph 2 of Schedule 2A to this Act, and (b)at the time when it so ceases to be an assured shorthold tenancy there is pending before [F12the appropriate tribunal] an application in relation to it under this section, the fact that it so ceases to be an assured shorthold tenancy shall, in relation to that application, be disregarded for the purposes of this section.] [F13(6)In subsection (2)(aa) above, the references to the original tenancy and to a replacement tenancy shall be construed in accordance with subsections (6) and (7) respectively of section 21 above.] Textual Amendments F1Words in s. 22 substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 86(a) (with Sch. 3) F2Words in s. 22(1) repealed (28.2.1997) by 1996 c. 52, ss. 104, 227, Sch. 8 para. 2(5), Sch. 19 Pt. IV; S.I. 1997/225, art. 2 (with Sch.) F3Words in s. 22(1) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 86(b)(i) (with Sch. 3) F4Words in s. 22(1) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 86(b)(ii) (with Sch. 3) F5Word in s. 22(2)(a) repealed (28.2.1997) by 1996 c. 52, s. 227, Sch. 19 Pt. IV; S.I. 1997/225, art. 2 F6S. 22(2)(aa) inserted (28.2.1997) by 1996 c. 52, s. 100(2); S.I. 1997/225, art. 2 (with Sch.) F7Words in s. 22(3) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 86(c)(i) (with Sch. 3) F8Words in s. 22(3) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 86(c)(ii) (with Sch. 3) F9Words in s. 22(4) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 86(d)(i) (with Sch. 3) F10Words in s. 22(4) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 86(d)(ii) (with Sch. 3) F11S. 22(5A) inserted (28.2.1997) by 1996 c. 52, s. 104, Sch. 8 para. 2(6); S.I. 1997/225, art. 2 (with Sch.) F12Words in s. 22(5A)(b) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 86(e) (with Sch. 3) F13S. 22(6) inserted (28.2.1997) by 1996 c. 52, s. 100(3); S.I. 1997/225, art. 2 (with Sch.)