Property Chamber (First-tier Tribunal)

Overview

The Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal has three jurisdictions: Residential Property (leasehold service charges, rent disputes, HMO licensing), Land Registration (disputes referred from the Land Registry), and Agricultural Land and Drainage. Hearings are typically conducted by a panel of a judge and a surveyor.

What it handles

• Service charge disputes between leaseholders and landlords
• Lease extension and enfranchisement applications under the LRHUDA 1993
• Park home pitch fee disputes
• Rent assessment for protected and statutory tenancies
• Disputes referred by HM Land Registry
• HMO and selective licensing appeals

Fees

• Variable: Application-dependent — see fee schedule

Process

1. Step 1: Apply to the tribunal

   Download and fill in the correct form for the type of dispute (for example rent increases, leasehold, park homes, or right-to-buy refusals).

2. Step 2: Pay the fee

   You may have to pay a fee to apply, and the form states how much; help with the fee is available if you're on certain benefits or have a low income.

3. Step 3: Send the form

   The completed form is emailed to the regional office that covers your area.

4. Step 4: Tribunal considers the case

   The tribunal tells you whether it will consider your case and may ask for more evidence; some cases are decided on the papers alone ('paper decision') without an oral hearing.

5. Step 5: Hearing or paper decision

   An oral hearing may be by phone, video, or in person and is open to the public; you usually get a decision within 6 weeks of the hearing (or within 6 weeks of the tribunal reviewing the documents for a paper decision).

6. Step 6: Appeal the decision

   If you're unhappy with the decision, you can ask the tribunal for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) within 28 days of the decision.

Appeals

Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).

Official sources