Market rent determined at £950 pcm for Weston-Super-Mare flat

PCM means per calendar month. Non-monthly rents are converted to monthly equivalents for comparison. The assessed market rent can exceed the landlord’s proposal. New Rent is the payable amount after any statutory cap. A strike-out is not a rent determination; a new rent shown for a struck-out case is the rent the parties agreed, not a figure set by the tribunal.

Landlord’s position and arguments

The landlord submitted that the proposed rent of £950 per month reflected the open market rental value, that the existing rent was below market level and the increase modest. The landlord disputed that the property was in significant disrepair, said repairs had been investigated and addressed, and noted the council identified matters for attention but took no formal enforcement action. The landlord argued the tenant's financial circumstances were irrelevant to market rent and opposed any delay in the effective date.

Tenant’s position and arguments

The tenant argued the proposed increase from £900 to £950 per month exceeded the market value in the property's current condition, suggesting a fair market rent of £850 per month. She described a dated and poorly maintained flat with defective heating, an inadequate hot water system, a defective entrance door, broken communal windows and neglected common areas, and relied on a schedule of works from the council's private rented housing team. The tenant requested a later start date on hardship grounds.

Tribunal reasoning and decision

Applying section 14(1) of the Housing Act 1988, the tribunal was satisfied the council schedule of works had been completed save for a de minimis thumb turn lock matter. Taking a starting market rent of £1,000 pcm and deducting £50 pcm for the EPC rating and thermal inefficiency (night storage heaters running on peak-rate electricity), the tribunal determined a market rent of £950 pcm. The landlord's proposal was not exceeded. The tenant's hardship application failed because no financial breakdown was provided, so the new rent of £950 pcm takes effect from 25 October 2026.

Original sources

• Read the decision on GOV.UK
• Tribunal document 1 (PDF)