Fair Rent Determination Under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal determined a fair rent of £209.50 per week for a property under the Rent Act 1977, using a specific formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent determined according to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined a fair rent of £209.50 per week for a property under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AH/F77/2025/0322
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 22 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
[NAME] [RESPONDENT] Valuer 0079475
Landlord [COMPANY] (exempt charity)
Tenant Mr [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is 209.50 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 20 January 2026
3. The amount for services is 18.06 Per week
negligible/not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
negligible Per week
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 £ 224.00 per week including £ 18.06 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 20 January 2026
FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 405.6
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 376.6
X 405.6 Minus Y 376.6 = (A) 29
(A) 29 Divided by Y 376.6 = (B) 0.077
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) 1.127
Last registered rent* 185.60 Multiplied by (C) = 209.172 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 209.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £209.50 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.
1
Case Reference
: LON/00AH/F77/2025/0322
Property : [ADDRESS], Croydon, Surrey CR0 PZ22
Tenant
: Mr [APPELLANT]
Landlord : [COMPANY] (exempt charity)
Type of Application : Rent Act 1977
Tribunal
: [NAME] B [NAME] Valuer 079475
Date of Summary Reasons
: 20 January 2026
_______________________________________________
DECISION
The sum of £ 209.50 per week will be registered as the fair rent with effect from, 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. The Tribunal did not inspect the property but considered this case on the basis of the papers provided by the parties.
Evidence 3. Any written submissions from the parties were reviewed by the Tribunal.
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 £280 per week. From this level of rent we have made adjustments 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:
7. The Tribunal determines a rent of £209.5 per week.
3
Decision 8. The uncapped fair rent initially determined by the Tribunal, for the purposes of section 70, was £224.00 per week. The capped rent for the property according to the provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 is calculated at £ 209.50 per week. The calculation of the capped rent is shown on the decision form. In this case the lower rent of £209.50 per week is to be registered as the fair rent for this property.
Chairman: [NAME]: 20 January 2026
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) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £255 Per Week for Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent for property near railway line
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Caps Fair Rent at Maximum Level Under Rent Act
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent at £195 per week under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent of £161 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Crondall Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Based on Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Hackney Property
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 rent is set according to market conditions.
- The rent reflects the property's condition and location.
- The rent is capped at the maximum fair rent as prescribed by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
- The rent takes into account improvements made by the tenant.
- The rent is calculated according to the Retail Price Index.
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 of £209.50 per week for a property.
Who was involved?
The tenant and the landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court used a specific formula from 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 that mattered most was the application of the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
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 can expect their fair rent to be determined using the same formula.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Written submissions from both parties were reviewed.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, a decision like this can be appealed if there are grounds to argue that the First-tier Tribunal was wrong on one or more points of law.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is always recommended to seek advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving fair rent determinations.
