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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent of £161 Per Week

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decided on the fair rent for a property in Manchester. The tenant was entitled to have their rent set at £161 per week, following calculations based on the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to have their rent set at £161 per week as the maximum fair rent under the Rent Act 1977 and related orders.

Topics

fair rentrent controltenancy agreement

Provisions

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

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the maximum fair rent for a tenancy agreement in Old Trafford, setting it at £161 per week under the Rent Act 1977 and related orders.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. MAN/00BU/F77/2025/0034

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were [ADDRESS], Old Trafford, Manchester, M 16 9LZ

Mr [RESPONDENT] Mrs [APPELLANT]

Landlord [COMPANY]

Tenant Mr & Mrs [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is £161 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 11 May 2026

3. The amount for services is

Per

negligible/not applicable

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

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 £280 ....................................................................................................................................................................... per week including £ per week ....... 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 £ ……….. ...... per ………… ..... including ………………………… per …………. .......................... for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.

Chairman S Wanderer Date of decision 11 May 2026

FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 411.4

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 360.3

X 411.4 Minus Y 360.3 = (A) 51.1

(A) 51.1 Divided by Y 360.3 = (B) 0.14183

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) 1.19183

Last registered rent* £1335 Multiplied by (C) = £160.90 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £161

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

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £161 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 rent is set at the maximum fair rent as defined by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
  • Fair rent reflects the condition and location of the property.
  • Rent is adjusted according to improvements made by the tenant.
  • Fair rent takes into account the local rental market rates.
  • Rent is determined based on the property's condition and specific tenancy terms.

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

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

The Tribunal determined that the fair rent for a property in Manchester is £161 per week.

Who was involved?

A tenant and their landlord were involved, with the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) making the ruling.

How did the court decide, and why?

The decision followed calculations based on the Rent Act 1977 and related orders to determine the maximum fair rent.

Which laws or rules were applied?

The Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were used in determining the fair rent.

What was the argument that mattered most?

Calculations based on the retail price index change since the last registration determined the maximum fair rent.

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

The decision was for the tenant, setting their rent at £161 per week.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone facing a similar issue can use these calculations to argue for fair rent based on current economic conditions.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The previous registered rent and the retail price index figures were crucial in determining the new fair rent.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, decisions from the First-tier Tribunal can often be appealed to higher courts under certain conditions.

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.

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.