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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Fair Rent Determination for a Property Under the Rent Act 1977

Case No.

📌 In brief

The Tribunal decided on a fair rent for a property using the Retail Price Index and the Rent Act 1977. This ensures that the rent charged is fair and reasonable.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation based on the Retail Price Index and relevant legislation.

Topics

fair rentRent Act 1977retail price index

Provisions

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977.

📜 Headnote Official document

The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the Retail Price Index and relevant legislation.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00BJ/F77/2021/0247

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 6 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

[NAME] Miss M [RESPONDENT] (EST MAN) FRICS

Landlord [APPELLANT]

Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT] T [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is £224.00 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 13 October 2021

3. The amount for services is £3.63 Per Week

4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is

N/A Per

5. The rent is not to be registered as variable.

6. The capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 apply (please see calculation overleaf).

7. Details (other than rent) where different from Rent Register entry

Dated flat with original features. Unmodernised bathroom with cracked hand basin, dated kitchen installed by tenant, single glazing, no radiator in 2nd bedroom.

8. For information only:

(a) The fair rent to be registered is not limited by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999, because it is below the maximum fair rent of £236.50 per week prescribed by the Order.

[NAME] of decision Wednesday 13th October 2021

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 307.4

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 276.0

X 307.4 Minus Y 276.0 = (A) 31.4

(A) 31.4 Divided by Y 276.0 = (B) 0.1137681

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 - NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.1637681

Last registered rent* £203.00 Multiplied by (C) = 236.24 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £236.50

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £236.50 Per Week

Explanatory Note

1. The calculation of the maximum fair rent, in accordance with the formula contained in the Order, is set out above.

2. In summary, the formula provides for the maximum fair rent to be calculated by:

(a) increasing the previous registered rent by the percentage change in the retail price index (the RPI) since the date of that earlier registration and

(b) adding a further 7.5% (if the present application was the first since 1 February 1999) or 5% (if it is a second or subsequent application since that date).

A 7.5% increase is represented, in the calculation set out above, by the addition of 1.075 to (B) and an increase of 5% is represented by the addition of 1.05 to (B).

The result is rounded up to the nearest 50 pence.

3. For the purposes of the calculation the latest RPI figure (x) is that published in the calendar month immediately before the month in which the Tribunal’s fair rent determination was made.

4. The process differs where the tenancy agreement contains a variable service charge and the rent is to be registered as variable under section 71(4) of the Rent Act 1977. In such a case the variable service charge is removed before applying the formula. When the amount determined by the application of the formula is ascertained the service charge is then added to that sum in order to produce the maximum fair rent.

📊 How courts decide similar cases

Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:

A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.

⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this

✅ Tends to be accepted

  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation based on the Retail Price Index and relevant legislation.

❌ Tends to be rejected

  • No significant factors identified that went against the claimant in these cases.

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

It decided on a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977.

Who was involved?

A tenant and a landlord were involved.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court used the Retail Price Index to calculate a fair rent that reflects current economic conditions.

Which laws or rules were applied?

The Rent Act 1977 and the Retail Price Index were used.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The argument that mattered most was the calculation method based on the Retail Price Index.

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

The decision was for the tenant.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation should ensure their rent is calculated fairly according to the Rent Act 1977.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The evidence included the property's condition and the relevant legislation.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, decisions like this can be appealed to a higher court.

Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?

It is recommended to seek advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving fair rent determinations.

Official source: First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) headnote and full judgment reproduced from the court's public records. View on the official source ↗Summary, holding, technical summary and questions: produced by Artificial Intelligence based on the official headnote and judgment. These are VadeLab’s own material and are not the work of the Court.This decision was issued by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and is reproduced from its published records. VadeLab is not affiliated with, and this page is not endorsed by, that court or tribunal.