First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent for tenant under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on a fair rent for a tenant's property, using the Retail Price Index and the Rent Act 1977 to calculate the rent.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to have their rent assessed according to the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal sets a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a tenant's property, applying the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations under the Rent Act 1977.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24
First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No.
LON/00BK/F77/2021/0082
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were
[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME]
Landlord
[APPELLANT]
Tenant
Mrs [APPELLANT]. [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is
21000.00
Per
Year
(excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is
27 May 2021
3. The amount for services is
N/A
Per
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
N/A
Per
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 £21,519.00 per Year prescribed by the Order.
[NAME] of decision
Monday 7th June 2021
FR24
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X
296.9
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y
285.6
X
296.9
Minus Y
285.6
= (A)
11.3
(A)
11.3
Divided by Y
285.6
= (B)
0.0396
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 - NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)
No
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C)
1.0896
Last registered rent*
£19,750.00
Multiplied by (C) =
21,518.93
*(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p =
£21,519.00
Variable service charge
YES / NO
If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT =
£21,519.00
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 for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent 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 maximum fair rent for property under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Maximum Fair Rent
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £90 per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Based on RPI Changes
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy Agreement
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets 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 fair rent was determined to be £21,000 per year, excluding water rates and council tax.
- The maximum fair rent calculation used the latest Retail Price Index figure of 296.9.
- The previous Retail Price Index figure used for the calculation was 285.6.
- The application was not the first for re-registration since 1 February 1999, so a 5% increase was applied.
- The maximum fair rent was calculated to be £21,519.00 per year.
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 for a tenant's property.
Who was involved?
A tenant and a landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
They used the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations to determine the fair rent.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The use of the Retail Price Index to calculate the fair rent.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
For the tenant.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can have their rent assessed using the same method.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the current and previous registered rents and the Retail Price Index figures.
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 such cases.
