Tribunals need hard evidence before agreeing rent rises – advice to agents
Summary
Propertymark is advising letting agents that rent increase proposals must be supported by robust evidence, accurate property descriptions and clear records of condition. Recent First-tier Tribunal decisions in several locations show that tribunals place greater weight on comparable evidence from completed lettings, detailed property characteristics and proof of inspection or repairs.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors may be asked to support rental valuations or evidence for tribunal proceedings, so the standard and quality of comparables, inspection notes and condition records are critical. The article also highlights how tribunals assess functional layout and property condition, which can materially affect market rent conclusions.
Key points
- Tribunals required detailed evidence before accepting rent increases.
- Comparable evidence from the same building or immediate area carried significant weight.
- Agreed rents were treated as stronger evidence than advertised asking rents.
- Property condition, layout, floor area and included services affected rent assessments.
- Inspection records, dated photographs and repair histories were recommended to support valuations.
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