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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Fair Rent Determination for a Tenancy Property

Case No.

📌 In brief

The Tribunal decided on a fair rent for a property, considering factors like the state of the property and statutory limits. This decision was made by Judge a person FRICS on 5th February 2024.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to a fair rent adjusted for specific conditions of the property and subject to statutory caps.

Topics

fair rent determinationtenancy valuation

Provisions

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a property, adjusting for various factors and applying the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

📜 Headnote Official document

The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a property, taking into account various factors such as the condition of the property and statutory caps under the Rent Act 1977. The decision was made by Judge J A Naylor FRICS on 5th February 2024.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. TR/LON/00AW/F77/2023/0406

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 62 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

[NAME]

Landlord [APPELLANT]

[NAME] [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is £10, 617.00 Per Quarter (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 05 February 2024

3. The amount for services is NIL Per

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

NIL 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)/ do not apply because 1st registration/15% exemption.

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

8. For information only:

(a) The fair rent to be registered is the maximum fair rent as prescribed by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999. The rent that would otherwise have been registered was £10,812.00 per quarter.

[NAME] of decision 5th February 2024

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 379

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 314.2

X 379 Minus Y 314.2 = (A) 64.8

(A) 64.8 Divided by Y 314.2 = (B) .[PHONE]

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

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.25623806

Last registered rent* £8,451.50 Multiplied by (C) = 1.25623806 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £10,617.00

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £10,617.00 Per Quarter

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.

1

Case Reference

: LON/00AW/F77/2023/0406

Property : [ADDRESS] s.w.3.4bn

Tenant

: Mrs [APPELLANT]

Landlord : [COMPANY] of Objection : 15th November 2023

Type of Application : Section 70, Rent Act 1977

Tribunal

: [NAME] of Summary

5th February 2024 Reasons

: 2023

_______________________________________________

DECISION

The sum of £10,617.00 per quarter will be registered as the fair rent with effect from 5th February 2024 being the date the Tribunal made the Decision. ____________________________________

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2023

FIRST - TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)

2

SUMMARY REASONS

Background 1. Following an objection from the Tenant to the determination of a fair rent by the Rent Officer, the Tribunal has made a determination under the provisions of the Rent Act 1977.

Inspection 2. Tribunal did not inspect the property but considered this case on the basis of the papers provided by the parties.

Evidence 3 .There were no written submissions from the parties.

Determination and Valuation 4. Having consideration of our own expert, general knowledge of rental values in the area, we consider that the open market rent for the property would be in the region of £25,500.00 per Quarter. From this level of rent we have made adjustments in relation to:

The lack of white goods provided by the Landlord The tenants liability for floor coverings The tenants decorating and repairing liability The fact that the central heating is a tenants improvement. The general level of modernisation / repair The unmodernised condition of the kitchen The unmodernised condition of the bathroom

5. The Tribunal has also made an adjustment for scarcity.

6. The full valuation is shown below:

Market Rent £25,500.00 PQ Less adjustments for

approx.47.00%

£11,985.00

£13,515.00

3 Balance brought forward £13,515.00 Less Scarcity

approx. 20% £ 2,703.00

£10,812.00

7. The Tribunal determines a rent of £10,812.00 per Quarter

Decision 8. The uncapped fair rent initially determined by the Tribunal, for the purposes of section 70, was £10,812.00 per quarter. The capped rent for the property according to the provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 is calculated at £10,617.00 per quarter. The calculation of the capped rent is shown on the decision form. In this case the lower rent of £10,617.00 per quarter is to be registered as the fair rent or this property.

Chairman: [NAME]: 5th February 2024

APPEAL PROVISIONS

These summary reasons are provided to give the parties an indication as to how the Tribunal made its decision. If either party wishes to appeal this decision, they should first make a request for full reasons and the details of how to appeal will be set out in the full reasons. Any subsequent application for permission to appeal should be made on Form RP PTA

📊 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

  • Fair rent is determined according to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
  • Fair rent takes into account the market rent and necessary deductions.
  • Fair rent is adjusted according to the Retail Price Index and the scarcity of properties.
  • Fair rent considers the age, location, and state of repair of the property.
  • Fair rent reflects the current market conditions and adjusts for relevant factors.

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, taking into account various factors.

Who was involved?

The tenant and the landlord were involved.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court considered the condition of the property and applied statutory caps to determine the fair rent.

Which laws or rules were applied?

The Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were applied.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The argument that mattered most was the need to adjust the rent based on the property's condition and statutory requirements.

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

The decision was for the tenant, setting a fair rent based on the property's condition.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation should ensure their rent is fairly assessed based on the property's condition and statutory requirements.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The condition of the property and relevant statutory provisions were key in making the decision.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, decisions like this can be appealed through the appropriate legal channels.

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.