First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent at £232.61 Per Week
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on the fair rent for a rented property. They set the fair rent at £232.61 per week, excluding certain costs like water rates and council tax.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977, specifically using the latest RPI figure and previous registered rent to determine the new fair rent.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a fair rent of £232.61 per week for an assured tenancy, excluding certain charges but including others.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977. The fair rent was set at £232.61 per week, excluding water rates and council tax but including specified amounts.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AL/F77/2023/0134
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME]
[COMPANY]
Tenant [NAME]
1. The fair rent is £232.61 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 10th July 2023
3. The amount for services is n/a Per n/a
negligible/not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
n/a Per n/a
negligible/not applicable
5. The rent is/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)/ do not apply because 1st registration/15% exemption.
7. Details (other than rent) where different from Rent Register entry
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 the same as/below the maximum fair rent of £ 232.61 per week.
[NAME] of decision 10th July 2023
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 372.80
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 283.00
X 372.80 Minus Y 283.00 = (A) 89.80
(A) 89.80 Divided by Y 283.00 = (B) 0.3173
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) 1.367
Last registered rent* 174.50 Multiplied by (C) = 238.59 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £239.00
Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services no
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £239.00 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 £133.50/Week Fair Rent for Four-Bedroom Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Regulated Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £1048 Monthly Rent for Assured Tenancy in Central London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £3,971.40 Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property with Variable Service Charges
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £336.32 fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £475/month rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £910/Month Rent for Assured Tenancy in Keynsham
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets New Fair Rent of £167.50 Per Week
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 is calculated according to the Retail Price Index.
- The fair rent takes into account the property's condition and market conditions.
- The fair rent is determined by the Tribunal under the Rent Act 1977.
- The fair rent reflects the current market value of the property.
- The fair rent calculation includes variable service charges and adheres to 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 fair rent of £232.61 per week for an assured tenancy.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about setting a fair rent for an assured tenancy under the Rent Act 1977.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set the fair rent at £232.61 per week based on the calculation method under the Rent Act 1977.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument centered on the correct application of the fair rent calculation method under the Rent Act 1977.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can expect their fair rent to be calculated according to the Rent Act 1977.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify.
