Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by The Negotiator. Read the original article for full details.
Most Rent Disputes Favour Tenants, Tribunal Data Shows
Recent analysis by LonRes reveals that almost two thirds of Property Tribunal decisions on rent disputes since January 2025 have gone against landlords, according to court figures. The findings highlight the importance for letting agents and inventory clerks to ensure rent increases are set correctly and supported by strong evidence.
LonRes examined the register of residential property tribunal decisions and found 1,325 rent disputes had been recorded since January 2025. Of these, 73% resulted in a rent figure below what the landlord had proposed, with a median reduction of 7.5% among those cases. Only 18% of decisions confirmed the rent proposed by the landlord.
The analysis also found that in 47% of decisions, the tribunal cited an evidence problem when ruling on the rent increase. This underscores the need for landlords and their agents to provide a robust evidence base when proposing rent rises.
The average wait from application to decision in a rent dispute is 96 days, rising to 142 days in London. This delay can have financial implications for landlords, as the new rent set by the tribunal is not backdated and only takes effect from the rent period following the tribunal’s decision.
Renters’ Rights Act Changes
The report comes as changes under the Renters’ Rights Act mean that a Section 13 Notice is now the only lawful way to raise rent. Landlords must give at least two months’ notice, and rent increases can be made no more than once a year. The proposed rent must not exceed the open market rent, and tenants have the right to refer the increase to a First Tier Tribunal.
According to LonRes, the tribunal cannot set a rent higher than the figure in the landlord’s notice. Guidance from HM Courts and Tribunals Service states that the determined rent will be either lower than or the same as the proposed figure.
These findings serve as a warning to letting agents and inventory clerks to ensure rent increases are justified and well-documented, as the tribunal process can be both costly and time-consuming for landlords.
Source: The Negotiator