What is a First Tier Tribunal?

The First Tier Tribunal is part of the court system in the United Kingdom. The First tier tribunal (Property Chamber) has 5 regional offices throughout England that deal with settling disputes in relation to leasehold property and the private rented sector.

Tribunal hearings are quite informal, you can state your own case or have a friend or professional speak for you. The tribunal normally sits as a panel of 3 consisting of one legally trained member, one surveyor and one lay (ordinary) person to provide a balanced view. The panel have control over the court hearing and decide in which order things are dealt with.