Bristol Grammar School-owned flat tenant unhappy at rise in rent and late night noise

A tenant has lost his bid to have the rent for his Bristol Grammar School-owned flat in Clifton reduced, despite complaints of late-night noise disturbance.

Mr Cooper was told in April this year that his £925 rent for the first floor three-bed flat in Elton Road in Tyndalls Park was going up to £1,166.50 after it was agreed by a Government rent officer.

But the tenant appealed against it. He said the garden was refurbished by him and he had carried out improvements such as fitted wardrobes in the main bedroom. He also said he had a log of alarm calls from noise issues late at night.

And he accused the school of being slow to fix repair issues such as a ‘foul-smelling’ drain.

The school’s agent Temple Homes, however, said that rents for comparable properties in the area ranged from £1,200 to £1,800 a month.

And a First-Tier tribunal considering the appeal agreed; stating that the likely market rent for the property would be £1,300 a month.

The tribunal panel also took into account late night noise disturbance, which it said was not uncommon for the area near the University of Bristol.

However, it deducted money for the tenant’s improvements to the property as well as defective window seals and rotten fence posts.

The new rent was set at £1,170 a month. The decision can be read by clicking here.