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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

First-tier Tribunal Sets £100 Weekly Fair Rent for Birmingham Property

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal set the fair rent for a property in Birmingham at £100 per week under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula from the Maximum Fair Rent Order 1999. The decision was based on the specific provisions of these laws.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to have their fair rent assessed according to the formula set out in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

Topics

fair rentRent Act 1977

Provisions

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property in Birmingham under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula from the Maximum Fair Rent Order 1999. The tenant was entitled to have their fair rent assessed at £100 per week.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/00CN/F77/2023/0010

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 142, [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

[NAME] Mr [APPELLANT]

Landlord [APPELLANT]

Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is £100 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 2 June 2023

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 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 £157.50 per week.

[NAME] of decision 2 June 2023

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 372.8

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 295.4

X 372.8 Minus Y 295.4 = (A) 77.4 (A) 77.4 Divided by Y 295.4 = (B) 0.2620

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.05 + 0.2620 = 1.5740

Last registered rent* £96 Multiplied by (C) = £157.10 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £157.50

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £157.10 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 11 similar decisions in this collection:

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

  • Fair rent is calculated based on the Retail Price Index (RPI) and the previous registered rent.
  • Fair rent is determined by the Tribunal under the Rent Act 1977, subject to capping provisions.
  • Fair rent is set by the First-tier Tribunal based on the formula provided in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

❌ Tends to be rejected

  • Fair rent does not consider tenant-improvements or disrepair attributable to the landlord.

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

The fair rent for a property in Birmingham was set at £100 per week.

Who was involved?

A tenant and their landlord were involved, with the First-tier Tribunal making the decision.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court applied the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to determine the fair rent.

Which laws or rules were applied?

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were applied.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The formula from the Maximum Fair Rent Order 1999 was crucial in determining the fair rent.

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

The decision was for the tenant, setting a fair rent of £100 per week.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation can have their fair rent assessed using the same formula if they are in a Rent Act property.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The tenancy agreement and relevant financial details were likely important, as well as the specific provisions of the Rent Acts.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, decisions from the First-tier Tribunal can often be appealed to the Upper Tribunal.

Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?

It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor for such cases.

Official source: First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) headnote and full judgment reproduced from the court's public records. View on the official source ↗Summary, holding, technical summary and questions: produced by Artificial Intelligence based on the official headnote and judgment. These are VadeLab’s own material and are not the work of the Court.This decision was issued by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and is reproduced from its published records. VadeLab is not affiliated with, and this page is not endorsed by, that court or tribunal.