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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Fair Rent Determination Under the Rent Act 1977

Case No.

📌 In brief

The Tribunal decided on a fair rent for a property, setting it at £215.50 per week. This decision was based on the Rent Act 1977 and the Retail Price Index formula.

⚖️ Legal holding

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

Topics

fair rentRent Act 1977Retail Price Index

Provisions

Rent Act 1977Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rents) Order 1999

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a property, applying the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rents) Order 1999.

📜 Headnote Official document

The Tribunal determined a fair rent of £215.50 per week for a property, applying the Rent Act 1977 and the Retail Price Index formula.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR27 Tribunal’s Fair Rent Decision

(5.18) (to be completed by the Tribunal and given to the Case Officer)

Case Number: LON/00AP/F77/2024/0601

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 93 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Tribunal Judge [NAME]

Landlord [COMPANY]

Tenant [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is £215.50 Per week (excluding water rates but including any council tax payable by the tenant to the landlord and any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 21 November 2024

3. The amount for services is not applicable

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

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.

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

None.

8. For information only: (complete (a) or (b))

(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 £304.00 per week.

Signed by Judge Tribunal Judge Mohabir Date of decision 21 November 2024

FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 390.7

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 284.1

X 390.7 Minus Y 284.1 = (A) 106.6

(A) 106.6 Divided by Y 284.1 = (B) 0.375220

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.425220

Last registered rent* £151.00 Multiplied by (C) = £215.21 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £215.50

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £215.50 Per 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/00AP/F77/2024/0601

Property:

93 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Tenant: `

[APPELLANT]

Landlord:

[COMPANY] of Objection:

5 August 2024

Type of Application: Section 70, Rent Act 1977

Tribunal:

Judge I [NAME] of Extended Reasons

: 21 November 2024

_______________________________________________

DECISION

The sum of £215.50 per week will be registered as the fair rent with effect from 21 November 2024 being the date the Tribunal made the Decision. ____________________________________

© CROWN COPYRIGHT EXTENDED REASONS

FIRST - TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)

2 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 documentary evidence only.

Evidence 3. No written submissions were received from the landlord. The tenant filed written submissions, which made reference to other rent being paid for properties in the same road. However, these comparables did not provide the Tribunal with any assistance because the particulars for these properties were not known. Therefore, the Tribunal was unable to determine if they were relevant and attached no weight to this evidence.

Determination and Valuation 4. Having consideration of our own expert, general knowledge of rental values in the area of Haringey, we consider that the open market rent for the property in its current condition would be in the region of £475.00 per week.

5. From this level of rent we have made global adjustments in relation to:

For the tenant’s floor coverings, curtains, white goods, the tenant’s internal decoration obligation under the terms of the tenancy and the absence of double glazing totalling 20%.

7. After deducting the amount for services, the Tribunal has also made an adjustment for scarcity.

8. The full valuation is shown below:

per week Market Rent

£475.00

Less

Deductions above

) Tenant’s carpets and curtains

) No white goods

)

20% Tenant’s internal decorating obligation ) No double glazing

)

Adjusted rent

£380.00

Less Scarcity

approx. 20%

£76.00

Fair rent

£304.00

9. The Tribunal determines a rent of £304.00 per week.

Decision 8. The rent has been capped under the provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rents) Order 1999 as it is above MFR of £215.50 per week.

Tribunal Judge: Mr I Mohabir

Date: 21 November 2024

3 APPEAL PROVISIONS

These extended reasons are provided to give the parties an indication as to how the Tribunal made its decision. Any 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

  • The fair rent was calculated by increasing the previous registered rent by the percentage change in the Retail Price Index.
  • A 5% increase was added because this was a second or subsequent application for re-registration since 1 February 1999.
  • The calculated rent was rounded up to the nearest 50 pence to determine the final maximum fair rent.
  • The Tribunal's own expert knowledge of rental values in the area was used to determine the open market rent.
  • Deductions were made for the tenant's floor coverings, curtains, white goods, internal decoration obligation, and absence of double glazing.
  • An adjustment for scarcity was made after deducting the amount for services.
  • The rent was capped under the provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rents) Order 1999 because it exceeded the maximum fair rent.

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

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

It set a fair rent of £215.50 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 the Retail Price Index formula under the Rent Act 1977.

Which laws or rules were applied?

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

What was the argument that mattered most?

The argument centered around the calculation method for the fair rent.

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 calculated using the same methods.

What evidence or documents mattered?

Documentary evidence was considered, but no inspection of the property was conducted.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

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

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

It is recommended to seek advice from a qualified solicitor for such cases.

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.