First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent of £159 per week for property
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on a fair rent of £159 per week for a property, using a specific formula based on the Retail Price Index and relevant legislation.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a maximum fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the latest RPI figure and a fixed percentage increase, as applied in this case.
📖 Technical summary
The First-tier Tribunal set a fair rent of £159 per week for an assured tenancy, applying the Retail Price Index (RPI) increase and a fixed percentage adjustment.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined a fair rent of £159 per week for a property, applying the formula under 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. JM/LON/00AY/F77/2023/0037
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME]
Landlord [COMPANY]
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT] & Mr [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £159.00 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 28 March 2023
3. The amount for services is not applicable Per
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
not applicable 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
8. For information only:
(a) The fair rent to be registered is the maximum fair rent as prescribed by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999. The rent that would otherwise have been registered was £299 per week.
[NAME] of decision 28 March 2023
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 360.3
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 279.7
X 360.3 Minus Y 279.7 = (A) 80.6
(A) 80.6 Divided by Y 279.7 = (B) 0.2881
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.3382
Last registered rent* 118.50 Multiplied by (C) = 158.57 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 159
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £159 Per Week
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 £224/week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £163.50/week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £784.50/month rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £160/week fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £194/week fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Below Maximum Limit Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent of £98.00 per week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £312/week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £159.50/Week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- 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 £335/Week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) New Fair Rent Set at £92.30 Per Week for 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 fair rent was calculated by increasing the previous registered rent by the percentage change in the Retail Price Index.
- An additional 5% was added to the calculation because this was not the first application for re-registration since February 1, 1999.
- The final calculated rent was rounded up to the nearest 50 pence.
- The latest RPI figure used was from the calendar month immediately before the Tribunal's determination.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal set a maximum fair rent of £159 per week for an assured tenancy.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about adjusting the rent for an assured tenancy to a maximum fair rent.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set the maximum fair rent at £159 per week, applying the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the application of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate the maximum fair rent.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, setting the maximum fair rent at £159 per week.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can expect their rent to be adjusted according to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.
