First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property in Harrow under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999. The decision explains how to calculate maximum fair rent and provides details of the specific case.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to have their fair rent calculated according to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 when seeking a re-registration under the Rent Act 1977.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999. The decision sets out how to calculate the maximum fair rent and provides details of the specific case.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. HS/LON/00AQ/F77/2023/0203
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 66 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
J A NAYLOR MRICS FIRPM
Landlord [APPELLANT]
[NAME] [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £217.00 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 11th September 2023
3. The amount for services is Nil Per
negligible/not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
Nil 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)/ do not apply because 1st registration/15% exemption.
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 £ ............................ per ................................... including £ ...................... per ................................. for services (variable).
(b) 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 £ 242.00 ........ per week ........... including £ ......................................... per ................................. for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.
Chairman J A NAYLOR MRICS FIRPM Date of decision 11th September 2023
FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 374.20
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 305.5
X 374.2 Minus Y 305.5 = (A) 68.7
(A) 73.1 Divided by Y 305.5 = (B) .22487725
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) 1.27487725
Last registered rent* £190 week Multiplied by (C) = 1.27487725 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £242.00
Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £242.00 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 Fair Rent for Tenancy Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent of £161 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy Agreement
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Tenancy
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets New Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent After Tenant Improvements
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination for Tenant Under Rent Act 1977
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's rent is adjusted based on the condition of the property.
- The tenant's rent is set according to the Retail Price Index.
- The tenant's rent is capped at the maximum fair rent as prescribed by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
- The tenant's rent is calculated according to the prescribed formula when seeking re-registration of a rent-controlled tenancy.
- The tenant's rent is adjusted for the terms of their tenancy agreement and the scarcity of similar properties in the market.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal set the fair rent for a property in Harrow under the Rent Act 1977.
Who was involved?
A tenant and a landlord were involved in the case.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court applied the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to determine the fair rent.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The formula for calculating maximum fair rent under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 was central to the decision.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was in favour of the tenant, setting a fair rent according to the law.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone seeking to re-register their rent under the Rent Act 1977 should follow the formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The previous registered rent and retail price index figures were important for calculating the maximum fair rent.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Decisions of the First-tier Tribunal can generally be appealed to the Upper Tribunal, but specific rules apply.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving rent determination under the Rent Act 1977.
