Challenging rent increases: is the tribunal ready for rental reform?

We recently publicised research showing that a third of landlords would sell properties they let if rent controls were introduced.

Shortly afterwards, press reports claimed that the Government would devolve rent control powers to the Mayor of London – reports which the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) categorically denies.  

But what could its plans to ‘empower tenants to challenge’ rent increases look like? Our Head of Policy, James Wood, explains the role of the property tribunal, how it comes to its decisions – and why greater resource for the tribunal is an essential part of the court reforms needed alongside the Renters’ Rights Bill.