First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on a fair rent of £1632 per month for a property, effective from 13 December 2019, under the Rent Act 1977. The decision was based on the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation based on the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal sets a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) set a fair rent of £1632 per month for a property, effective from 13 December 2019, under the Rent Act 1977, considering the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00BJ/F77/2019/0182
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were First & [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME] Mr [RESPONDENT] JP CQSW
Landlord [APPELLANT]
[NAME] [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is 1632.00 Per Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 13 December 2019
3. The amount for services is n/a Per
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
negligible/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
-
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 £1666 per month.
Chairman I [NAME] of decision 13 December 2019
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 290.4
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 272.9
X 290.4 Minus Y 272.9 = (A) 17.5
(A) 17.5 Divided by Y 272.9 = (B) 0.064126
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) 1.114126
Last registered rent* 1495.0 Multiplied by (C) = 1665.62 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 1666
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £1666 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 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.
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
[NAME] Mr [RESPONDENT] JP CQSW
Landlord [APPELLANT]
[NAME] [APPELLANT]
2. The effective date is 13 December 2019
3. The amount for services is n/a Per
negligible/not applicable
n/a Per
negligible/not applicable
5. The rent is not to be registered as variable.
-
8. For information only:
Chairman I [NAME] of decision 13 December 2019
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 290.4
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 272.9
X 290.4 Minus Y 272.9 = (A) 17.5
(A) 17.5 Divided by Y 272.9 = (B) 0.064126
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C) -
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.114126
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 1666
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £1666 Per month
Explanatory Note
The result is rounded up to the nearest 50 pence.
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £876.50 Per Month
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets new fair rent for property under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination for Tenant Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent of £187.50 per week for tenant
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy Agreement
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £624 Per Month
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent 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 tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation based on the Retail Price Index.
- The tenant's entitlement includes reference to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
- The court considers the section 70 rent and the rent determined under the Maximum Fair Rent Order.
- The fair rent calculation takes into account the Rent Act 1977 and relevant regulations.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- No significant factors identified that went against the claimant in these cases.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
It set a fair rent of £1632 per month for a property, effective from 13 December 2019.
Who was involved?
The tenant and the landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court used the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate the fair rent.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the calculation of the fair rent using the Retail Price Index.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the tenant.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should consider the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 when seeking a fair rent.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the tenancy agreement and the relevant statutory provisions.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, decisions like this can be appealed to a higher court.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
Yes, it is recommended to seek advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving fair rent calculations.
