Fair Rent Determination for Property Under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal determined a fair rent of £197.50 per week for a property, following the procedures outlined in the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent determined according to the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📖 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 of £197.50 per week for a property under the Rent Act 1977, considering the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AN/F77/2025/0177
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 4B [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
[NAME] [RESPONDENT] Valuer
Landlord [NAME]
Tenant Ms [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is 197.50 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 31 July 2025
3. The amount for services is Not applicable Per
negligible/not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
Not applicable Per
negligible/not applicable
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
None
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 £252.00 per week including £ nil per week for services. (b) The fair rent to be registered is not limited by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999, because it is the same as/below the maximum fair rent of £ ................... per .................... including £ ......................................... per ................................. for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.
[NAME] of decision 31 July 2025
FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 404.5
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 295.4
X 404.5 Minus Y 295.4 = (A) 109.1
(A) 109.1 Divided by Y 295.4 = (B) 0.37
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) 1.42
Last registered rent* £139.00 Multiplied by (C) = 1.42 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 197.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = 197.50 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.
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Case Reference
: LON/00AN/F77/2025/0177
Property : 4B [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
Tenant
: Ms [APPELLANT]
Landlord : [NAME] of Objection : 21 March 2025
Type of Application : Rent Act 1977
Tribunal
: [NAME] Valuer 079475
[NAME] Valuer
Date of Summary Reasons
: 31 July 2025
_______________________________________________
DECISION
The sum of £ 197.50 per week will be registered as the fair rent with effect from 31 July 2025, being the date the Tribunal made the Decision. ____________________________________
© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2023 FIRST - TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)
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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. The Tribunal did not inspect the property but considered this case based on 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 in a satisfactory condition would be in the region of £395 per week. From this level of rent we have adjusted to reflect any tenant improvements, disrepair and obsolescence at the property. Details of the adjustments made are shown in the valuation table below.
5. The Tribunal has also made an adjustment for scarcity.
6. The full rental valuation is shown below:
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7. The Tribunal determines a rent of £197.50 per week.
Decision 8. The uncapped fair rent initially determined by the Tribunal, for the purposes of section 70, was £252.80 per week. The capped rent for the property according to the provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 is calculated at £197.50 per week. The calculation of the capped rent is shown on the decision form. In this case the lower rent of £ 197.50 per week is to be registered as the fair rent for this property.
Chairman: [NAME]: 31 July 2025
APPEAL PROVISIONS
You can only appeal this determination if the First-tier Tribunal decision was wrong on one or more points of law and you must say why the First-tier Tribunal was wrong in law. 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:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for London Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination for Tenancy Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy at £244 Weekly
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent at £249 per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy Using Maximum Fair Rent Formula
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Capped Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £255 Per Week for Tenancy
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 calculated according to the Retail Price Index.
- The tenant is entitled to a fair rent based on the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
- The tenant's entitlement includes a cap on the fair rent as prescribed by the order.
- The tribunal determines the fair rent using the formula prescribed by the order.
- Previous registered rent is considered in calculating the fair rent.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
It decided a fair rent of £197.50 per week for a property.
Who was involved?
The tenant objected to the rent determination and the landlord was involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court used the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 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 centered around the calculation of the fair rent using the Retail Price Index.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the tenant, setting a fair rent of £197.50 per week.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can use the same legal framework to challenge their rent determination.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the objection from the tenant and the relevant calculations based on the Retail Price Index.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, a decision like this can be appealed if there are grounds to argue that the decision was wrong on a point of law.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
Yes, it is recommended to seek advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving fair rent determinations.
