First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4166662
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on a fair rent for a property, setting it at £148.03 per week, including a variable service charge. This decision was made under the Rent Act 1977 and considers factors like the Retail Price Index.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the latest Retail Price Index figures and the previous registered rent, resulting in a new fair rent of £148.03 per week.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a new fair rent of £148.03 per week for an assured tenancy, including a variable service charge of £58.03 per week.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined a fair rent of £148.03 per week for a property, including a variable service charge of £58.03 per week, under the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. MAN/00CJ/F77/2022/0006
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 17 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
Mr I Jefferson Mrs [APPELLANT]
[COMPANY]
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £148.03 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 4 April 2022
3. The amount for services is £58.03 per week
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is not applicable
5. The rent is 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
Service charge to be registered as variable
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 the same as the maximum fair rent of £148.03 per Week including £58.03 per week for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.
Chairman Mr I Jefferson Date of decision 4 April 2022
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 320.2
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 290.6
X 320.2 Minus Y 290.6 = (A) 29.6
(A) 29.6 Divided by Y 290.6 = (B) 0.1019
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999: NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.1519
Last registered rent* 78.00 Multiplied by (C) = 89.85 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 90.00
Variable service charge YES If YES add amount for services 58.03
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £148.03 Per weekly
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 £23,303/year rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £290/Week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £108/week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in Birmingham
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £124/Week Maximum Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £94 Weekly Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in Birmingham
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £135 Weekly Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £179.50/week rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent at £188 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination: Applying Statutory Caps
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £244.50 fortnightly rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £144/week fair rent for assured tenancy in Brockley
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4162264
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 calculation under the Rent Act 1977.
- The fair rent calculation takes into account the Retail Price Index.
- The fair rent calculation considers relevant regulations and statutory caps.
- The Tribunal determines the fair rent based on the property's condition and improvements.
- The calculation excludes the effects of disrepair or defects.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- (No factors identified as leading to a decision against the claimant in the provided cases.)
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal set a new fair rent of £148.03 per week for an assured tenancy, including a variable service charge of £58.03 per week.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the calculation of a fair rent for an assured tenancy, including a variable service charge.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set a new fair rent of £148.03 per week, including a variable service charge of £58.03 per week, based on the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Rent Act 1977 Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999
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 a new fair rent of £148.03 per week.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can expect their fair rent to be calculated 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.
