First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal set the fair rent for a rental property at £500 per month based on the Rent Act 1977. This decision affects how much tenants pay in rent, excluding some charges but including fuel costs.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to have their fair rent set by the First-tier Tribunal based on the Rent Act 1977 and relevant regulations.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, setting it at £500 per month.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, setting it at £500 per month excluding certain charges but including fuel costs. The calculation adhered to the relevant regulations and orders.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Other
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. MAN/00CX/F77/2023/0008
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 35 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME] Mr [RESPONDENT] [NAME]
[ADDRESS] LTD
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is 500.00 Per Calendar Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 13 April 2023
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
0.00 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 (please see calculation overleaf) apply but the registered rent is less than the maximum fair rent.
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 £610 per calendar month.
[NAME] of decision 13/04/23
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 360.3
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 292
X 360.3 Minus Y 292 = (A) 68.3
(A) 68.3 Divided by Y 292 = (B) 0.2339
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) 1.2839
Last registered rent* 475 Multiplied by (C) = 609.85 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 610.00
Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £610 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) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent at £120 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £110 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Tenancy Dispute
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Controlled Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent at £950 Per Month
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 set at £500 per calendar month, excluding water rates and council tax.
- The effective date for the fair rent decision was 13 April 2023.
- The amount for services was not applicable in this rent calculation.
- The amount for fuel charges was £0.00 and not applicable for rent allowance.
- The registered rent was less than the maximum fair rent, so the capping provisions applied but did not limit the registered rent.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The fair rent for a property was set at £500 per month.
Who was involved?
A tenant and the landlord were involved in setting the fair rent.
How did the court decide, and why?
The Tribunal used specific regulations to calculate the fair rent based on previous registered rents and inflation rates.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 and Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The calculation of fair rent based on previous registered rents and inflation rates was crucial.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
It is unclear without knowing which party initiated the case, but it follows legal standards.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone can seek a fair rent determination if they believe their rental agreement is unfair.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Previous registered rents and inflation data were key to the decision.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, decisions from the First-tier Tribunal can often be appealed to higher courts.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor for such cases.
