First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4136284
📌 In brief
The Tribunal decided on a fair rent of £754.50 per month for a property, excluding water rates and council tax but including fuel charges, following the guidelines set by the Rent Act 1977.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent assessment under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the retail price index and the previous registered rent, resulting in a fair rent of £754.50 per month.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a fair rent of £754.50 per month for an assured tenancy, below the maximum fair rent threshold.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined a fair rent of £754.50 per month for a property, excluding water rates and council tax but including fuel charges, based on the Rent Act 1977 and the Retail Price Index.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/00CT/F77/2024/0028
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 106 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
[NAME] [NAME]
Landlord [APPELLANT]
Tenant Mr [APPELLANT] J [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £754.50 Per Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 25 October 2024
3. The amount for services is - Per -
not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is - Per -
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 do not 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, because it is below the maximum fair rent of £776 per month prescribed by the Order.
[NAME] of decision 25 October 2024
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 389.9
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 340.0
X 389.9 Minus Y 340.0 = (A) 44.9 (A) 44.9 Divided by Y 340.0 = (B) 0.1468
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) 1.05 + 0.1468 = 1.1968
Last registered rent* £648 Multiplied by (C) = £775.53 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £776
Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services -
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £776 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) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent of £87.00 per week under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £552.50 Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £244.99/week fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenant Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent of £120 per week for property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £255/week rent for assured tenancy in South West London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £431.81/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination for Residential Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets fair rent of £992.50 for property under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Islington Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £842/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Cap Under Rent Acts Order 1999
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 reflects the property's condition and local market rates.
- The fair rent is adjusted for inflation using the Retail Price Index.
- The fair rent calculation follows the Rent Act 1977 and relevant orders.
- The fair rent takes into account the scarcity of similar properties.
- The fair rent considers current market conditions.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal set a fair rent of £754.50 per month for an assured tenancy, below the maximum fair rent threshold.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about setting the fair rent for an assured tenancy based on the latest Retail Price Index figures and the previous registered rent.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set the fair rent at £754.50 per month, considering the latest Retail Price Index figures and the previous registered rent.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 was applied to determine the fair rent.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the calculation of the fair rent using the latest Retail Price Index figures and the previous registered rent.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, setting the fair rent at £754.50 per month.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can expect their fair rent to be assessed based on the latest Retail Price Index figures and the previous registered rent.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.
