First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenants Under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decided on a fair rent for a tenant's property. They set the rent at £454.00 per month, excluding water rates and council tax but including service charges. This decision was made according to the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent determined by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined a fair rent of £454.00 per month for a tenant's property, excluding water rates and council tax but including service charges. The decision was based on the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/44UD/F77/2021/0022
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 44 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME] Mr [RESPONDENT] [NAME]
[COMPANY]
Tenant [NAME] [APPELLANT] [NAME]
1. The fair rent is £454.00 Per Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 11th August 2021
3. The amount for services is £15.58 Per Month
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is N/A Per N/A
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:
The fair rent to be registered is not limited by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999, because it is the below the maximum fair rent of £465.50 per month including £15.58 per month for services prescribed by the Order.
[NAME] of decision 11/08/2021
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 304.00
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 264.40
X 304.0 Minus Y 264.4 = (A) 39.6
(A) 39.6 Divided by Y 264.4 = (B) 0.1497
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C) N/A
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.1997
Last registered rent* £388.00 Multiplied by (C) = £465.48 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £465.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services N/A
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £465.50 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 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.
First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/44UD/F77/2021/0022
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
[NAME] Mr [RESPONDENT] [NAME]
[COMPANY]
Tenant [NAME]
2. The effective date is 11th August 2021
3. The amount for services is £15.58 Per Month
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
N/A Per N/A
not applicable
5. The rent is not to be registered as variable.
8. For information only:
[NAME] of decision 11/08/2021
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 304.00
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 264.40
X 304.0 Minus Y 264.4 = (A) 39.6
(A) 39.6 Divided by Y 264.4 = (B) 0.1497
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C) N/A
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.1997
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £465.50
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £465.50 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:
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- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Protected Tenant
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
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- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Regulated Tenancy
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- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property with Agricultural Tie
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
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 that reflects current market conditions.
- The tenant is entitled to a fair rent based on the property's condition.
- The tenant is entitled to a fair rent adjusted for any improvements made by the tenant.
- The tenant is entitled to a fair rent determined according to the Rent Act 1977 and related orders.
- The tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation taking into account market comparables.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- (No significant factors leading against the claimant in the provided 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 £454.00 per month for a tenant's property.
Who was involved?
The tenant and the landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided based on the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
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 centered around determining a fair rent that reflects current economic conditions.
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 bringing their case to the First-tier Tribunal for a fair rent determination.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Evidence related to the property and relevant economic data were considered.
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 legal advice from a solicitor for cases involving fair rent determinations.
