First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4168712
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on the maximum fair rent for a tenant's property. They used a specific formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate the rent, which came to £50.50 per week.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a maximum fair rent calculated according to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999, resulting in a weekly rent of £50.50.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a new fair rent of £50.50 per week for an assured tenancy, applying the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the maximum fair rent for a tenant's property to be £50.50 per week, excluding water rates and council tax but including fuel charges, following the calculation method prescribed 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/00CN/F77/2021/0012
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 76 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
Mr [NAME] (Hons) FRICS Mrs [APPELLANT]
Landlord [APPELLANT] [NAME]
Tenant Mr [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £50.50 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 20 April 2021
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 0.00 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 apply (please see calculation overleaf)
7. Details (other than rent) where different from Rent Register entry
8. For information only:
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 £76 per week.
Chairman Mr [NAME] of decision 20 April 2021
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 296
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 284.5
X 296 Minus Y 284.5 = (A) 11.5
(A) 11.5 Divided by Y 284.5 = (B) 0.[PHONE]
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.[PHONE]
Last registered rent* £46 Multiplied by (C) = £50.16 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £50.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £50.50 Per Week
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 £200.50 Weekly Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for London Basement Flat
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Caps Tenant's Rent at £187.50 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets maximum fair rent for property using RPI
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £927/month rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £172/week fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £442.50/month fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £607/Month Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £82 weekly rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £194/week maximum fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £123.30 Weekly Rent for Assured Tenancy in Manchester
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 capped according to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
- The maximum fair rent is calculated based on the retail price index and fixed percentage increases.
- The tribunal sets the fair rent considering the property's characteristics and market conditions.
- The calculation includes the property's age, location, and state of repair.
- The rent is determined by the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The fair rent determination does not strictly follow 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?
The Tribunal set a new fair rent of £50.50 per week for an assured tenancy.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about setting a fair rent for an assured tenancy using the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 formula.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set the fair rent at £50.50 per week, applying the formula under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999, which considers the latest Retail Price Index (RPI) figures and the previous registered rent.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the application of the formula under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate the fair 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 fair rent of £50.50 per week.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For someone in a similar situation, they can expect their fair rent to be calculated using the formula under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents that mattered.
