First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £1,176 Per Month
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal has decided on a fair rent for a property, setting it at £1,176 per month. This decision was made according to the Rent Act 1977 and takes into account various factors such as the Retail Price Index.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation based on the Retail Price Index and relevant legislation.
📖 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) determined a fair rent of £1,176 per month for a property, excluding water rates and council tax but including fuel charges. The decision was based on the Rent Act 1977 and the Retail Price Index.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. TR/LON/00BK/F77/2023/0319
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
Tribunal Judge [NAME]
Landlord [NAME]
Tenant [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is 1176.00 Per Calendar Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 11 December 2023
3. The amount for services is Not applicable Per
negligible/not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
Not applicable Per
negligible/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)
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 £1,434 per month.
Chairman Tribunal Judge Sarah McKeown Date of decision 11 December 2023
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 377.8
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 308.6
X 377.8 Minus Y 308.6 = (A) 69.2
(A) 69.2 Divided by Y 308.6 = (B) 0.224238
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) 1.274238
Last registered rent* £1,125 Multiplied by (C) = £1,433.52 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £1,434
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £1,434 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.
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent at £850 Per Month
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets fair rent of £909.50 for property under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Based on Retail Price Index
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent for property under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier 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) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £240.50 Per Week Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Regulated Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent at £700 Per Month
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Protected Periodic Tenancy
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 and relevant legislation.
- Fair rent takes into account the property's condition and market comparables.
- Adjustments are made for the tenant's contributions and the property's state of repair.
- Market rent is adjusted for the scarcity of similar properties.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- (No factors identified that went 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 £1,176 per month for a property.
Who was involved?
A tenant and a landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court used the Rent Act 1977 and the Retail Price Index to determine the fair rent.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 and the Retail Price Index were used.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The calculation of the fair rent based on the Retail Price Index was crucial.
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 Rent Act 1977 and the Retail Price Index when seeking a fair rent.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The tenancy agreement and relevant financial data were important.
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?
It is recommended to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving fair rent determinations.
