According to a study by the real estate analytics firm LonRes, almost three-quarters of all rental disputes decided by property tribunals since January 2025 have resulted in lower rents than originally demanded by landlords. This development indicates a significant challenge for landlords in the current market environment, particularly when enforcing rent increases.
LonRes's analysis confirms that in 73 per cent of the rulings made by the tribunals, the proposed rents were adjusted downwards. This highlights the need for landlords to carefully substantiate their rent demands and to provide comprehensive evidence to support their position. The decisions of the property tribunals have far-reaching implications for the profitability and planning certainty of real estate investments.
Burden of proof as a decisive factor
A central finding of the study is that in 47 per cent of court decisions, deficiencies in the evidence presented were cited as the reason for rejecting proposed rent increases. This suggests that the quality of the documentation and arguments put forward is crucial for the outcome of the proceedings. Landlords must ensure they have valid and convincing data to prove the reasonableness of their rent demands.
LonRes's detailed examination of court records offers important insights into the criteria by which courts decide rental disputes. It becomes clear that thorough preparation and precise argumentation are essential for success in rent adjustments. The results reflect a trend where tenants' interests are increasingly taken into account by the courts, provided that landlords cannot present sufficiently conclusive evidence.
- —73% of cases resulted in lower rents.
- —47% of decisions criticised landlords' evidence.
- —Data is based on cases since January 2025.
