First-tier Tribunal Sets £5,690 Annual Fair Rent for Property
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on the fair rent for a rental property under the Rent Act 1977. The tribunal used a specific formula to calculate the fair rent, which was determined to be £5,690 per year.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to have their fair rent set according to the prescribed formula when they apply under the Rent Act 1977.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal determined the fair rent of a property in Northumberland to be £5,690 per year, applying the formula set out in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. MAN/00EM/F77/2023/0045
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 8 Netherwitton Village, Morpeth, Northumberland [POSTCODE]
[NAME] TD FRICS Mrs [APPELLANT]
Landlord Mr [APPELLANT]
Tenant Mr [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £5,690.00 Per Year (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 18 September 2023
3. The amount for services is not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
£100.00 Per Year
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:
(a) 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 £6,136.50 per Year prescribed by the Order.
[NAME] of decision 18 September 2023
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 374.2
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 296.0
X 374.2 Minus Y 296.0 = (A) 78.2
(A) 78.2 Divided by Y 296.0 = (B) 0.264
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999: NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.314
Last registered rent* 4670.00 Multiplied by (C) = 6136.38 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 6136.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services N/A
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £6,136.50 Per year
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 Fair Rent at £979 per Month for London Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination: £980 Per Month
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £110 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for London Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent Using Rent Acts Formula
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets maximum fair rent for property under Rent Act 1977
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 was set at £5,690.00 per year, excluding water rates and council tax.
- The effective date for the new fair rent was determined to be 18 September 2023.
- An amount of £100.00 per year was included for fuel charges, not counting for rent allowance.
- The rent was not registered as variable.
- The capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 applied to the calculation.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal set the fair rent for a property at £5,690 per year.
Who was involved?
A tenant and landlord were involved in setting the fair rent for their rental agreement.
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?
The Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were used.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant argued for a fair rent calculation based on the prescribed formula.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was in favour of the tenant, setting the fair rent as requested.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone seeking to set a fair rent can use the same formula if their case meets the criteria.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The tenancy agreement and relevant financial information were likely key pieces of evidence.
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 matters.
