Landlords Told Rent Rises Need Full Evidence, Not Just Justification
UK Property News

Landlords Told Rent Rises Need Full Evidence, Not Just Justification

By The Property AI Team · 20 October 2026 · 2 min read

Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Team from a report by Property118. Read the original article for full details.

Landlords Told Rent Rises Need Full Evidence, Not Just Justification

A modest rent rise still needs evidence to support the whole proposed rent, according to Property118. For landlords concerned by the publication's recent tribunal coverage, that means looking beyond the size of the increase.

Property118 says it examined the Manchester and Leeds decisions alongside Propertymark's review to explain what a useful evidence file should contain. The article notes that in the Manchester case, details follow in the original report.

The core message for landlords is that the level of a proposed increase is not, on its own, sufficient. Evidence is required to support the whole proposed rent — not merely the justification for raising it.

What the Source Covers

Property118's report draws on two sources: tribunal decisions in Manchester and Leeds, and a review by Propertymark. The publication states that it examines these together to set out what a useful evidence file should contain.

The source does not set out the specific contents of that evidence file, the outcomes of the Manchester and Leeds decisions, or the findings of the Propertymark review. Letting agents and inventory clerks seeking the detailed guidance should read the original article in full.

Why This Matters for Letting Agents

For letting agents handling rent reviews and for inventory clerks supporting the documentation that accompanies them, the report's central point is procedural. A proposed rent needs to be supported by evidence covering the whole figure, not just the amount of the increase.

Property118 frames this as a concern for landlords who have been following its recent tribunal coverage. The publication positions the Manchester and Leeds decisions and the Propertymark review as the reference points for understanding what a useful evidence file should contain.

Agents and clerks should note that the source does not quantify the increases involved, the sums awarded, or any statistics from the cases. The brief is limited to what Property118 states: that evidence must support the whole proposed rent, and that the Manchester and Leeds decisions and Propertymark's review inform what that evidence file should include.


Source: Property118
The Property AI Team — the team behind The Property AI's inventory software, covering UK lettings compliance, deposit-dispute evidence and inventory best practice.

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