First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property

OUTCOME: Allowed

First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AF/F77/2022/0044

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 3 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

[NAME] [NAME]

Landlord [APPELLANT]

Tenant Mr [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is 1071 Per Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 15th June 2022

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 do not apply.

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 £1,273.50 per month (See attached calculations)

[NAME] [NAME] [NAME] of decision 15th June 2022

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 334.6

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 290.6

X 334.6 Minus Y 290.6 = (A) 44

(A) 44 Divided by Y 290.6 = (B) 0.151

First [NAME] for re-registration since 1 February 1999 YES/NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.201

Last registered rent* 1060 Multiplied by (C) = 1273.06

*(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = 1273.50

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £1273.50 Per Month

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 [NAME] was the first since 1 February 1999) or 5% (if it is a second or subsequent [NAME] 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 [NAME] of the formula is ascertained the service charge is then added to that sum in order to produce the maximum fair rent.

FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) Case reference : LON/00AF/F77/2022/0044 Property : 3 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE] Tenant

[NAME] Landlord : [APPELLANT] : [NAME] of [NAME] : Section 70 of the Rent Act 1977 Tribunal members : Mr [NAME] [NAME] : 10 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]

Date of Reasons. : 18th August 2022

REASONS (HOUSING ACT 1988)

Decision of the Tribunal

The Tribunal determines £1071.00 per month is to be registered as the fair rent for the above property with effect from 15th June 2022 being the date of the Tribunal's decision.

The reasons for this decision are set out below.

Reasons

Background

On 22nd November 2021 [RESPONDENT] on behalf of the landlord, applied to the Valuation Office Agency (Rent Officer) for registration of a fair rent of £1272 per month for the property.

The rent payable at the time of the [NAME] was £1060 effective from 17th January 2020

On 26th. January 2021 the Rent Officer registered a fair rent of £1065 per month. The rent increase imposed by the Rent Officer had been “uncapped” or unlimited by the operation of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 ( the Order).

By letter dated 10th February 2022 the Landlords agent [COMPANY] objected to the rent determined by the Rent Officer and the matter was referred to this Tribunal.

The law

When determining a fair rent the Tribunal, in accordance with the Rent Act 1977, section 70, must have regard to all the circumstances including the age, location and state of repair of the property. It also must disregard the effect of (a) any relevant tenant's improvements and (b) the effect of any disrepair or other defect attributable to the tenant, on the rental value of the property. Section 70(2) of the Rent Act 1977 imposes on the Tribunal an assumption that the number of persons seeking to become tenants of similar dwelling house in the locality on the terms ( other than those relating to rent) of the regulated tenancy is not substantially greater than the number of such dwelling houses in the locality which are available for letting on such terms. This is commonly called ‘scarcity’.

[COMPANY] v [NAME] of the Greater Manchester Council (1995) 28 HLR 107 and [NAME] v [NAME] Tribunal [1999] QB 92 the Court of Appeal emphasised

(a) that ordinarily a fair rent is the market rent for the property discounted for 'scarcity' (i.e. that element, if any, of the market rent, that is attributable to there being a significant shortage of similar properties in the wider locality available for letting on similar terms - other than as to rent - to that of the regulated tenancy) and

(b) that for the purposes of determining the market rent, assured tenancy (market) rents are usually appropriate comparables. (These rents may have to be adjusted where necessary to reflect any relevant differences between those comparables and the subject property).

The Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 places a “cap” on the permissible amount of the increase of a fair rent between one registration and the next, by reference to the amount of the increase in the United Kingdom Index of Retail Prices between the dates of the two registrations. Where the cap applies the Rent Officer and the Tribunal is prevented from increasing the amount of the fair rent that it registers beyond the maximum fair rent calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Order and the mathematical formula set out in the Order. By article 2(7) of the 1999 Order the capping provisions do not apply “in respect of a dwelling-house if because of a change in the condition of the dwelling-house or the common parts as a result of repairs or improvements (including the replacement of any fixture or fitting) carried out by the landlord or a superior landlord, the rent that is determined in response to an [NAME] for registration of a new rent under Part IV exceeds by at least 15% the previous rent registered or confirmed.”

Facts found without Inspection

In view of the current restrictions the Tribunal did not inspect the property and relied on information provided by the parties together with its expert knowledge. The property is a 1930s built three bedroom semi detached house located in an established road close to local amenities.

The accommodation comprises: two living rooms, kitchen, conservatory/lean to, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, lavatory, rear garden.

There is gas a central heating system to radiators.

Terms of the tenancy

It is understood that this tenancy began on the 31st October 1988 It is agreed that the landlord is responsible for structural repairs and external decoration; the tenant is responsible for internal decorations. The property was let unfurnished.

The landlord has claimed that services amount to £9,500 per annum (£791 per month) This is based upon Section 11 responsibilities together with the provision of cleaning of common parts and provision of a porter.

Tenant's improvements

The tenant has not provided any information regarding improvements made to the property

Evidence

The Tribunal had copies of the Valuation Office Agency correspondence including the rent registers effective 17th January 2020 and 26th January 2022 together with the calculations for the most recent registration.

The parties provided limited information in connection with the property in the form of completed Reply forms. No comparable evidence was provided by the parties.

Valuation

In the first instance the Tribunal determined what rent the landlord could reasonably be expected to obtain for the property in the open market if it were let today in the condition that is considered usual for such an open market letting.

Based upon the evidence provided together with its expert knowledge, the Tribunal consider that the subject property, if finished to a reasonable standard would be likely to attract a rent let on an assured shorthold tenancy, for around £1700 per month.

Next, we need to adjust that hypothetical rent of £1700 per month to allow for the differences between the terms of this tenancy and the lack of white goods, carpets and curtains and dated kitchen fittings (disregarding the effect of tenant’s improvements and any disrepair or other defect attributable to the tenant).

The Tribunal has considered very carefully the parties submissions and the notes prepared by the Rent Officer.

Using our own expertise we considered that deductions of 30% should applied in order to take into account the terms of the tenancy, and condition of the property at the commencement of the tenancy. This provides a deduction of £510 pm from the hypothetical rent. This reduces the figure to £1190 pm

It should be noted that this figure cannot be a simple arithmetical calculation and is not based upon capital costs but is the tribunal’s estimate of the amount by which the rent would need to be reduced to attract a tenant.

Scarcity

Thirdly, the tribunal then went on to consider whether a deduction falls to be made to reflect scarcity within the meaning of section 70(2) of the 1977 Act. The tribunal followed the decision of the High Court in [COMPANY] v [NAME], in which it was held that scarcity over a wide area should be considered rather than scarcity in relation to a particular locality. Greater London is considered to be an appropriate area to use as a yardstick for measuring scarcity and it is clear that there is a substantial measure of scarcity in Greater London.

We therefore made a further deduction of approximately 10% (£119) from the adjusted market rent of £1190 to reflect this element to produce a figure of £1071 per month.

Conclusion

The capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order do not apply (see calculations) and therefore the uncapped fair rent is £1071 per month

Therefore, this is the fair rent to be registered limited by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 with effect from the 15th June 2022 being the date of the Tribunals decision.

Detailed calculations are provided on the back of the decision form already issued and dated 15th June 2022.

[NAME] [NAME]

18th August 2022

Rights of appeal

By rule 36(2) of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013, the tribunal is required to notify the parties about any right of appeal they may have.

If a party wishes to appeal this decision to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), then a written [NAME] for permission must be made to the First-tier Tribunal at the regional office which has been dealing with the case. The [NAME] for permission to appeal must arrive at the regional office within 28 days after the tribunal sends written reasons for the decision to the [NAME]. If the [NAME] is not made within the 28 day time limit, such [NAME] must include a request for an extension of time and the reason for not complying with the 28 day time limit; the tribunal will then look at such reason(s) and decide whether to allow the [NAME] for permission to appeal to proceed, despite not being within the time limit. The [NAME] for permission to appeal must identify the decision of the tribunal to which it relates (i.e. give the date, the property and the case number), state the grounds of appeal and state the result the party [NAME] the [NAME] is seeking. If the tribunal refuses to grant permission to appeal, a further [NAME] for permission may be made to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).