diff --git a/lib/models/room.js b/lib/models/room.js
index 2ea0205d9..15cdf602e 100644
--- a/lib/models/room.js
+++ b/lib/models/room.js
@@ -321,6 +321,24 @@ Room.prototype.getUsersReadUpTo = function(event) {
     });
 };
 
+/**
+ * Get the ID of the event that a given user has read up to, or null if we
+ * have received no read receipts from them.
+ * @param {String} userId The user ID to get read receipt event ID for
+ * @return {String} ID of the latest event that the given user has read, or null.
+ * an empty list.
+ */
+Room.prototype.getEventReadUpTo = function(userId) {
+    if (
+        this._receipts["m.read"] === undefined ||
+        this._receipts["m.read"][userId] === undefined
+    ) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    return this._receipts["m.read"][userId].eventId;
+};
+
 /**
  * Get a list of receipts for the given event.
  * @param {MatrixEvent} event the event to get receipts for