First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent of £181 per week for tenant
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal has decided on a fair rent of £181 per week for a tenant, according to the Rent Act 1977. This includes fuel charges but excludes water rates and council tax. The decision uses the capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to determine the fair rent.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the latest Retail Price Index figure and the previous registered rent, resulting in a new fair rent of £181.00 per week.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a new fair rent of £181.00 per week for an assured tenancy, effective from 31 October 2024.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined a fair rent of £181 per week for a tenant under the Rent Act 1977, excluding water rates and council tax but including fuel charges. The decision applies the capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/00CN/F77/2024/0023
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 33 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[RESPONDENT] [NAME] [RESPONDENT] [NAME] [RESPONDENT]
Landlord BPT ([APPELLANT]) Limited
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £181.00 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 31/10/2024
3. The amount for services is
Per
not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
Per
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 below the maximum fair rent of £ per including £ per for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.
Chairman G S Freckelton FRICS Date of decision 31/10/2024
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 389.9
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 308.6
X 389.9 Minus Y 308.6 = (A) 81.3 (A) 81.3 Divided by Y 308.6 = (B) 0.2634
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.3134
Last registered rent* £144.00 Multiplied by (C) = £189.13 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £189.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £189.50 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 £157.14 Weekly Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £77 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4171731
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £640/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £720/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £1872.00 Per Quarter Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £202/week fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £1065/Month Fair 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 £82 Weekly Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4168106
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £200/Week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
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 £181.00 per week.
- The effective date for the new fair rent is October 31, 2024.
- The rent will not be registered as variable.
- The capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 apply to this case.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal set a new fair rent of £181.00 per week for an assured tenancy, effective from 31 October 2024.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about calculating a fair rent for an assured tenancy using the latest Retail Price Index figure and the previous registered rent.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set a new fair rent of £181.00 per week, effective from 31 October 2024, based on the calculation method outlined in the Rent Act 1977.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 was applied to calculate the fair rent.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the calculation of the fair rent using the latest Retail Price Index figure and the previous registered rent.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the tenant who brought the case, setting a new fair rent of £181.00 per week.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can expect their fair rent to be calculated similarly under the Rent Act 1977.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.
