First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4136285
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) has decided on a fair rent of £750 per month for a tenant's property, ensuring it stays below the maximum allowable rent of £830.50.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent assessment under the Rent Act 1977, resulting in a fair rent of £750 per month for the assured tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a fair rent of £750 per month for an assured tenancy, below the maximum fair rent threshold.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined a fair rent of £750 per month for a tenancy agreement, below the maximum fair rent of £830.50, as calculated by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/00CT/F77/2024/0029
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 115 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]
[NAME] [APPELLANT]
Landlord [APPELLANT]
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £750 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 £830.50 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 337.1
X 389.9 Minus Y 337.1 = (A) 52.8 (A) 52.8 Divided by Y 337.1 = (B) 0.1566
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 + 0.1566 = 1.2067
Last registered rent* £688 Multiplied by (C) = £830.21 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £830.50
Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services -
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £830.50 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 (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4168106
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £135/week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £350/Month Rent for Assured Tenancy in Jarrow
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Central London Tenancy
- 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) Tribunal sets £300/week rent for assured tenancy in North Kensington
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £197.50 Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in Camberwell
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £255/week rent for assured tenancy in South West London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets fair rent of £877 per month under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £952/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in Shepherd's Bush
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4141132
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 tenant is entitled to a fair rent that reflects the property's condition and local market rates.
- The fair rent is determined by the Tribunal considering the property's characteristics and local market conditions.
- The fair rent is calculated according to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
- The fair rent takes into account the Retail Price Index and the previous registered rent.
- The fair rent is adjusted for the condition of the property and market scarcity.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977 was subject to statutory caps and was dismissed.
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 £750 per month for an assured tenancy, below the maximum fair rent threshold under the Rent Act 1977.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about setting the fair rent for an assured tenancy, specifically whether the rent should be set at £750 per month or higher.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set the fair rent at £750 per month, as it was below the maximum fair rent threshold calculated using the relevant RPI figures.
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 maximum fair rent using the relevant RPI figures, which showed that £750 per month was below the threshold.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, as the fair rent was set below the maximum threshold.
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 relevant RPI figures and compared to the maximum fair rent threshold.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents that mattered, but it likely included details about the tenancy and the relevant RPI figures.
