VadeLab
AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal decided on the maximum fair rent for a rented property in Sutton, Surrey. The tribunal applied statutory capping provisions and determined that the rent should be £225.50 per week, excluding water rates and council tax but including service charges.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to have their rent capped at the maximum fair rent as prescribed by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

Topics

rent controlfair rent determination

Provisions

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined the maximum fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, considering RPI changes and statutory capping provisions.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the maximum fair rent for a property in Sutton, Surrey. The decision applied statutory capping provisions under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to set the rent at £225.50 per week.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. SH/LON/00BF/F77/2023/0198

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 3 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Mr [RESPONDENT]

[COMPANY] (Exempt Charity)

Tenant Ms [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is £225.50 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 4 September 2023

3. The amount for services is £11.05 Per Week

4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is

N/A 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:

(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 £236.44 per week including £11.05 per week for services.

[NAME] of decision 4 September 2023

FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 374.2

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 305.5

X 374.2 Minus Y 305.5 = (A) 68.7

(A) 68.7 Divided by Y 305.5 = (B) 0.224877

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.274877

Last registered rent* £176.50 Multiplied by (C) = £225.02 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £225.50

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services N/A

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £225.50 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:

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 £225.50 per week.
  • The effective date for the fair rent determination was 4 September 2023.
  • An amount of £11.05 per week was included for services.
  • The capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 apply to this case.
  • The calculation used a 5% increase because it was a second or subsequent application since 1 February 1999.

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

The First-tier Tribunal set the maximum fair rent for a property at £225.50 per week.

Who was involved?

A tenant and their landlord were involved in the case.

How did the court decide, and why?

The tribunal applied statutory capping provisions to determine the maximum fair rent.

Which laws or rules were applied?

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 and Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The statutory capping provisions under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were crucial in determining the maximum fair rent.

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

The decision was for the tenant, setting a lower rent as required by law.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone facing a similar issue can seek to have their rent capped at the maximum fair rent under the applicable laws.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The tribunal considered statutory provisions and relevant financial data.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Decisions from the First-tier Tribunal can typically be appealed to the Upper Tribunal.

Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?

It is advisable to consult with a qualified solicitor for legal advice and representation.

Official source: First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) headnote and full judgment reproduced from the court's public records. View on the official source ↗Summary, holding, technical summary and questions: produced by Artificial Intelligence based on the official headnote and judgment. These are VadeLab’s own material and are not the work of the Court.This decision was issued by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and is reproduced from its published records. VadeLab is not affiliated with, and this page is not endorsed by, that court or tribunal.