Rent tribunal tracker launched for landlords

Landlords considering a rent rise can now search tribunal decisions to see how proposed increases have been assessed.

Goodlord has launched a searchable database covering published decisions on section 13 notices made since 1 May, when the Renters’ Rights Act took effect.

Users can search by postcode, area, case reference, landlord or tenant and compare proposed rents with the amounts awarded.

The tracker also includes the tribunal’s reasoning and updates automatically as decisions are published.

Rent rise appeals

Phil Noble, the firm’s product lead, told Property118: “The impact of the RRA is still in its infancy – we’re yet to feel the full effects of certain elements.

“The volume of rent rise appeals, and the role of the First-tier Tribunal is a great example; we are seeing cases start to be heard but have no idea if this is the tip of the iceberg or not.”

He added: “The tracker is designed to help landlords and agents build a sense of how decisions are being made, both nationally and locally, and the volumes making it to tribunal.

“You can search the tracker and see exactly what the Tribunal has decided on different cases.”

Tribunal cuts rent

The launch follows Property118’s report on a Manchester landlord whose proposed £50 monthly increase ended with the First-tier Tribunal cutting the existing rent by £200.

The flat had two bathrooms and a balcony, and although the tribunal considered it attractive, it found that the market evidence did not support the amount sought.

The landlord had proposed raising the monthly payment from £1,650 to £1,700, but the tribunal determined a rent of £1,450 after the tenant challenged the increase.

That leaves the landlord receiving £2,400 less a year, rather than the extra £600 expected.

Landlord tribunal outcomes

Property118 also reported on a London case in which a landlord sought £2,475 a month from a tenant paying £2,066, only for the tribunal to determine £1,950 after a replacement section 13 notice was served.

That case was among 25 published decisions reviewed by property lawyer David Smith, covering notices served since the new regime began.

Half of the 24 cases in which a rent was determined resulted in the full increase requested, while six landlords received 25% or less of the uplift sought and two secured no increase above the existing rent.

The median award was 92.4% of the proposed uplift, although Mr Smith found that the four cases involving proposed rises above 10% ranged from full acceptance to substantial reductions.

The Goodlord rent tribunal decision checker is available here.