VadeLab
AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal decided on a fair rent for a property. They took into account the property's condition and amenities compared to what similar properties are renting for in the area.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to a fair rent adjusted for the property's condition and amenities relative to the local market value.

Topics

fair rentproperty conditionmarket comparison

Provisions

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal sets a fair rent for a property based on its condition and amenities compared to the open market rent.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined a fair rent of £560 per month for a property after considering its condition and amenities relative to the local market value.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. TR/LON/00AT/F77/2024/0050

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 76B [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

[NAME] [NAME]

Landlord [APPELLANT] c/o

Tenant Ms [APPELLANT] [NAME]

1. The fair rent is £560.00 Per Calendar Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 16 April 2024

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

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 do not apply because 1st registration.

7. Details (other than rent) where different from Rent Register entry

[NAME] of decision 16 April 2024

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X Not applicable

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y

X

Minus Y

= (A)

(A)

Divided by Y

= (B)

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)

Last registered rent*

Multiplied by (C) =

*(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p =

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

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £ Per

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.

1

Case Reference

: TR/LON/00AT/F77/2024/0050

Property : 76B [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Tenant

: Ms [APPELLANT] [NAME]

Landlord : [RESPONDENT] of Objection : 2 October 2023

Type of Application : Section 70, Rent Act 1977

Tribunal

: Mr [NAME] [NAME] of Summary Reasons

: 16 April 2024

_______________________________________________

DECISION

The sum of £560.00 per calendar month will be registered as the fair rent with effect from 16 April 2024, being the date the Tribunal made the Decision. ____________________________________

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2023

FIRST - TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)

2

SUMMARY REASONS

Background

1. Following an objection from the Landlord to the determination of a fair rent by the Rent Officer, the Tribunal has made a determination under the provisions of the Rent Act 1977.

Inspection

2. The Tribunal did not inspect the property but considered this case on the basis of the papers provided by the parties.

Evidence

3. The Tribunal has consideration of the written submissions provided by the Landlord.

Determination and Valuation

4. Having consideration of the comparable evidence proved by the parties and our own expert, general knowledge of rental values in the area, we consider that the open market rent for the property in the condition and with the amenities the market would expect would be in the region of £2000.00 per calendar month. From this level of rent we have made adjustments in relation to:

Internal and external disrepair No central heating Dated kitchen and bathroom Lack of power sockets

5. The Tribunal has also made an adjustment for scarcity.

6. The full valuation is shown below:

7. The Tribunal determines a s70 rent of £560.00 per calendar month.

Fair rent PCM Market rent 2,000.00 £ less condition & terms 65% 1,300.00 -£ adjusted rent 700.00 £ less scarcity off adj rent 20% 140.00 -£ Fair rent 560.00 £

3

Decision

8. As this is a first registration of the rent the provisions of the. Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 do not apply. The s70 rent of £560.00 per calendar month is to be registered as the fair rent or this property.

Chairman: [NAME]: 16 April 2024

APPEAL PROVISIONS

These summary reasons are provided to give the parties an indication as to how the Tribunal made its decision. If either party wishes to appeal this decision, they should first make a request for full reasons and the details of how to appeal will be set out in the full reasons. Any subsequent application for permission to appeal should be made on Form RP PTA

📊 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 tenant is entitled to a fair rent that reflects improvements made to the property.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent set by the Tribunal according to the Rent Act 1977.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent determined by the condition of the property and relevant market conditions.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Retail Price Index and Rent Acts.
  • The tenant is entitled to have their rent capped at the maximum fair rent as prescribed by the Rent Acts.

❌ Tends to be rejected

  • (No factors identified that went against the claimant in the provided cases.)

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

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

It set a fair rent of £560 per month for a property.

Who was involved?

The tenant and the landlord were involved.

How did the court decide, and why?

They decided based on the property's condition and amenities compared to the local market value.

Which laws or rules were applied?

The Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11 was applied.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The argument that mattered most was the comparison between the property's condition and the open market rent.

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

The decision was for the tenant.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation might also seek a fair rent adjustment based on their property's condition and amenities.

What evidence or documents mattered?

Written submissions and comparable evidence were important.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, decisions like this can be appealed if there are grounds for doing so.

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

It is always recommended to get advice from a qualified solicitor for cases like this.

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.