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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Controlled Tenancy

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal set the fair rent for a controlled tenancy by using a specific formula from the Rent Act 1977. The decision ensures that the tenant's rent is calculated fairly and in accordance with legal requirements.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to have their fair rent calculated according to the specified formula when seeking re-registration of a rent-controlled tenancy.

Topics

fair rentrent controltenancy agreement

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, applying the formula in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate the maximum fair rent.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. HS/LON/00BJ/F77/2023/0218

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 25A [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

[NAME] (Lond) Mr [RESPONDENT]

Landlord [COMPANY]

Tenant Mr [APPELLANT] (Jun)

1. The fair rent is 234.00 Per Week (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

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/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 £234 per week.

[NAME] (Lond) Date of decision 18th September 2023

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 374.2

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 305.5

X 374.2 Minus Y 305.5 = (A) 68.7

(A) 68.7 Divided by Y 305.5 = (B) 0.224877

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) 1.274877

Last registered rent* 183.50 Multiplied by (C) = 233.94 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = 234

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £234 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:

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 determined to be £234 per week, excluding water rates and council tax.
  • The effective date for the new fair rent was set as 18 September 2023.
  • The maximum fair rent calculation used the latest RPI figure of 374.2.
  • The calculation used the previous RPI figure of 305.5.
  • The calculation added 1.05 to the RPI change because it was a second or subsequent application since 1 February 1999.

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 under the Rent Act 1977.

Who was involved?

A tenant and a landlord were involved in the case.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court applied the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate 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's right to have their rent calculated fairly according to legal provisions.

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

The decision was in favour of the tenant.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone with a controlled tenancy can seek fair rent calculation through the same process.

What evidence or documents mattered?

Documentation related to previous registered rents and RPI figures were crucial.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Decisions from the First-tier Tribunal can sometimes be appealed to higher courts.

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

It is advisable to consult with a qualified solicitor for legal advice on such matters.

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.