Senior President of Tribunals issues Practice Direction relating to panel composition in the First-tier Tribunal of the Property Chamber

Direction includes provision relating to composition of tribunals hearing cases on residential property disputes

The Senior President of Tribunals Sir Keith Lindblom has issued a Practice Direction relating to panel composition in the First-tier Tribunal of the Property Chamber.

Superseding all previous determinations about composition in respect of the Property Chamber, the new Practice Direction includes, in relation to residential property cases, that –

• any matter that does not dispose of the proceedings must be decided by one judge or chair, unless the Chamber President directs that the matter is to be determined by two or three members; and
• a decision that disposes of proceedings must be made by a judge or chair sitting alone but in the following circumstances may be decided by a judge or chair sitting with one or two other members –
  • where the matter includes a dispute of fact or opinion;
  • where the matter requires the application of special expertise; and/or 
  • any other case where, in the view of the Regional Judge, the overriding objective requires there to be more than one member.

The Practice Direction: Panel composition in the First-tier Tribunal, Property Chamber is available from judiciary.uk