First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on a fair rent of £1059 per month for a property after considering an objection from the tenant. The rent was calculated using the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculated 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 £1059 per month for a property, applying the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999. The decision was made following an objection from the tenant to the initial determination by the Rent Officer.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AE/F77/2025/0316
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
[RESPONDENT] Valuer 0079475
Landlord [NAME]
Tenant Mr [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is 1059.00 Per Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 11 February 2026
3. The amount for services is Neglibile Per
negligible/not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
Negligible 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 £ £1,224 per month including £ nil per 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 11 February 2026
FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 408.5
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 377.3
X 408.5 Minus Y 377.8 = (A) 31.2
(A) 30.7
Divided by Y 377.8 = (B) 0.081
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) 1.131
Last registered rent* 936 Multiplied by (C) = 1058.85 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 1059.00
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £1059 Per Month
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/00AE/F77/2025/0316
Property : [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
Tenant
: Mr [APPELLANT]
Landlord : [NAME] of Objection : 12 August 2026
Type of Application : Rent Act 1977
Tribunal
: [NAME] B [NAME] Valuer 079475
Date of Summary Reasons
: 11 February 2026
_______________________________________________
DECISION
The sum of £1059 per month will be registered as the fair rent with effect from 11 February 2026, 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 on the basis of the papers provided by the parties.
Evidence 3. There were written submissions from the landlord but none from tenant.
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 £1,800 per month. 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:
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7. The Tribunal determines a rent of £1059 per month.
Decision 8. The uncapped fair rent initially determined by the Tribunal, for the purposes of section 70, was £1,224 per month. The capped rent for the property according to the provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 is calculated at £ 1059 per month. The calculation of the capped rent is shown on the decision form. In this case the lower rent of £1059 per month is to be registered as the fair rent for this property.
Chairman: [NAME]: 11 February 2026
APPEAL PROVISIONS
4 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 £876.50 Per Month
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £255 Per Week for Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Hackney Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Considering Tenant Improvements
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent After Tenant Improvements
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Caps Fair Rent at Maximum Level Under Rent Act
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets fair rent of £992.50 for property under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy Under Rent Act 1977
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 calculated according to the Retail Price Index.
- The rent reflects the condition of the property and market conditions.
- 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 any improvements made by the tenant.
- The rent is determined by the Tribunal based on the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
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 £1059 per month for a property.
Who was involved?
The tenant objected to the initial determination of the rent by the Rent Officer.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court used the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate 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 method for determining the fair rent.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the tenant, setting a fair rent based on their objection.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can object to the initial rent determination and seek a fairer rent through the First-tier Tribunal.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Written submissions from both the landlord and the tenant were considered.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, a decision like this can be appealed if there are legal grounds for doing so.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is recommended to get legal advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving fair rent determinations.
