First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal has decided on the fair rent for a rented property. They set the monthly rent at £424.52, starting from February 13, 2025. This decision follows the guidelines set by the Rent Act 1977.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property located at 10 Kilburn Drive, Coventry, under the Rent Act 1977, setting the rent at £424.52 per month, effective from 13 February 2025.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/00CQ/F77/2024/0629
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 10 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME] Mr [APPELLANT]
Landlord [COMPANY]
Tenant [NAME] [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £424.52 Per month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 13 February 2025
3. The amount for services is £23.52 Per month
not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is N/A Per N/A
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:
The fair rent to be registered is not limited by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999. The rent that would otherwise have been determined would have been £597.50 per month.
Chairman [NAME] of decision 13.2.25
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 392.1
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 295.4
X 392.1 Minus Y 295.4 = (A) 96.7 (A) 96.7 Divided by Y 295.4 = (B) 0.327
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 YES/NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C) N/A
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.377
Last registered rent* £290.92 Multiplied by (C) = £400.59 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £401.00
Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services £23.52
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £424.52 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.
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £136 Per Week Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Maximum Fair Rent Using Retail Price Index
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Below Maximum Limit
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £135.97 Per Week for Tenant
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy Agreement
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets New Fair Rent of £250.50 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent 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 fair rent was determined to be £424.52 per month, excluding water rates and council tax.
- The effective date for the new fair rent is 13 February 2025.
- The amount for services included in the fair rent calculation is £23.52 per month.
- The capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were applied to the calculation.
- The maximum fair rent calculation used the latest RPI figure of 392.1 and the previous figure of 295.4.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The fair rent for the property was set at £424.52 per month.
Who was involved?
The tenant and the landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court used the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations 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 calculation of the fair rent using the Retail Price Index was crucial.
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 should consider the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations when determining fair rent.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the previous registered rent and the Retail Price Index figures.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, decisions like this can be appealed to a higher court.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is recommended to seek legal advice from a solicitor for cases involving fair rent determination.
