Judge rejects rent appeal over one word error

The resident said the word "park" was missing from his rent demand, rendering it invalid

A judge has rejected a park home resident's claim that his annual rent demand was invalid because it was missing a word.

Martin Hampton, from Swanage, Dorset, appealed at the Upper Tribunal against his monthly pitch fee increase from £214 to £244.

He said it should be quashed because the address “Cauldron Barn Park Farm” omitted the word "park" and the rise had been slightly miscalculated.

However, Judge Elizabeth Cooke rejected both grounds, saying it was "common sense" that a "minor error in the address... which did not mislead or inconvenience anyone" did not invalidate the notice.

In the ruling on Thursday, Judge Cooke added: "It would be troubling if complex legal analysis were required in order to reach the same conclusion."

At a previous court hearing, the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) also calculated that the new rent was eight pence a month more than it should have been.

In her ruling confirming the FTT decision, Judge Cooke commented: "Quite simply the respondent got the calculation wrong.

"Does that invalidate the notice? I am truly puzzled as to why the appellant says it did."

She rejected Mr Hampton's claim against Berkeley Leisure Group Ltd.