First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal set the fair rent for a rental property in Croydon at £940.50 per month, following calculations based on the Retail Price Index (RPI) and statutory requirements under the Rent Act 1977.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to have their rent set at a fair rate according to the Rent Act 1977 and relevant regulations.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, calculating it based on RPI changes and statutory provisions.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property based on the Rent Act 1977 and relevant regulations, setting it at £940.50 per month after applying RPI changes.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Other
First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. JM/LON/00AH/F77/2023/0184
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were
B 18 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE] [NAME]
[NAME]
Landlord C J E Allison
Tenant Miss [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is 940.50 Per Calendar Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 19 October 2023
3. The amount for services is n/a Per n/a
negligible/not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
n/a Per n/a
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
n/a
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 the same as/below the maximum fair rent of £940.49 per month prescribed by the Order.
[NAME] of decision 19th October 2023
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 376.6
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 296.9
X 376.6 Minus Y 296.9 = (A) 79.7
(A) 79.7 Divided by Y 296.90 = (B) 0.26844
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) 1.31844
Last registered rent* £960 Multiplied by (C) = £1265.70
*(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £1266.00
Variable service charge YES / NO
If YES add amount for services No
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £1266.00 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 11 similar decisions in this collection:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent of £112.00 per week for property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £103 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Below Maximum Fair Rent
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) New fair rent set for property by First-tier Tribunal
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination for Tenancy Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Considering Condition and Terms
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent of £952.00 Per Month
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent 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 determined to be £940.50 per calendar month, excluding water rates and council tax.
- The effective date for the fair rent decision was set as 19 October 2023.
- The maximum fair rent calculation used the latest RPI figure of 376.6 and a previous RPI figure of 296.9.
- The calculation included an additional 5% increase because it was a second or subsequent application since 1 February 1999.
- The last registered rent of £960 was multiplied by the calculated factor to determine the maximum fair 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 rental property was set at £940.50 per month.
Who was involved?
A tenant and a landlord were involved in the dispute over the fair rent of a property.
How did the court decide, and why?
The Tribunal applied the Rent Act 1977 and relevant regulations to calculate the fair rent based on RPI changes.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 and Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were used in the decision.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The calculation of fair rent based on RPI changes since the last registration date was crucial.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
It is unclear from the judgment which party initiated the case, but the outcome reflects a fair rent determination.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone facing a tenancy dispute over fair rent should consider applying RPI changes and relevant statutory provisions.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The previous registered rent, RPI figures, and the property's details were important for determining the fair rent.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Decisions from the First-tier Tribunal can often be appealed to the Upper Tribunal if certain conditions are met.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor for complex tenancy disputes.
