Fair Rent Determination Under the Rent Act 1977

OUTCOME: Dismissed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. MAM/LON/00BG/F77/2023/0347

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 22 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Tribunal Judge I [NAME] [NAME] (Econ) MRICS

Landlord [NAME]

Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is £200.00 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 16 January 2024

3. The amount for services is not applicable Per

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

not applicable 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

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 per week.

Chairman Tribunal Judge I [NAME] of decision 16 January 2024

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 377.3

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 292

X 377.3 Minus Y 292 = (A) 85.3

(A) 85.3 Divided by Y 292 = (B) 0.29212

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.34212

Last registered rent* 149 Multiplied by (C) = 199.97 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = 200

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £200 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/00BG/F77/2023/0347

Property:

22 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Tenant: `

Mrs [APPELLANT] [NAME]

Landlord:

[NAME] of Objection:

6 September 2023

Type of Application: Section 70, Rent Act 1977

Tribunal:

Judge I [NAME] [NAME] (Econ) MRICS

Date of Summary Reasons

: 16 January 2024

_______________________________________________

DECISION

The sum of £200 per week will be registered as the fair rent with effect from 16 January 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. The Tribunal did not inspect the property but considered this case on the basis of the papers provided by the parties.

Evidence 3. Only written submissions were received from the tenant in relation to the condition of the property, which was not challenged by the landlord. The Tribunal noted the tenant’s report that the rent had been increased in 2023 but noted that this was to an amount below the registered rent of £149 recorded in February 2020. The Landlord’s present application is for £184.75 per week.

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 good tenantable condition would be in the region of £520 per week. From this level of rent we have made adjustments in relation to:

Assuming a dated kitchen and bathroom, tenant’s floor coverings, curtains, white goods, decoration obligation under the terms of the tenancy and the condition of the property.

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

6. The full valuation is shown below:

per week Market Rent

£520

Less Deductions above

)

) approx. 46% )

£240

£280

Less Scarcity

approx. 20%

£56

£224

7. The Tribunal determines a fair rent of £224 per week.

Decision 8. However, the rent is capped under the provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rents) Order 1999 in the sum of £200 per week.

Tribunal Judge: [NAME]: 16 January 2024

3 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.