Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy Agreement
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decided on the fair rent for a rental property, setting it at £12,000 annually. This includes service charges and follows the guidelines set by the Rent Act 1977.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal sets a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, calculating it based on the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the fair rent for a tenancy agreement, setting it at £12,000 per annum, excluding water rates and council tax but including service charges.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AN/F77/2021/0120
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
Judge D [NAME]
[APPELLANT] (c/o [APPELLANT])
Tenant Mr [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £12,000 Per annum (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 23rd August 2021
3. The amount for services is £1579.62 Per Annum
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
n/a 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 £12,928.50 ...................... per annum ............................................................................................................. including £ 1579.62 ............................ per annum ..................... for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.
Chairman Judge D Brandler
Date of decision 23rd August 2021
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 304
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 283
X 304 Minus Y 283 = (A) 21
(A) 21 Divided by Y 283 = (B) 0.07420495
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) 1.12420495
Last registered rent* 11500 Multiplied by (C) = 12928.3569 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 12928.50
Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £12,938.50 Per annum
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 Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets New Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier 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) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Considering Condition and Amenities
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Tenant Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum 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 £12,000 per annum, excluding water rates and council tax.
- The effective date for the fair rent calculation was set as August 23, 2021.
- An amount of £1579.62 per annum was included for services in the fair rent calculation.
- The maximum fair rent was calculated using the Retail Price Index, increasing the previous registered rent by the percentage change in RPI.
- A 5% increase was added to the RPI change because this was a second or subsequent application since February 1, 1999.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
It set the fair rent for a tenancy agreement at £12,000 per year.
Who was involved?
The tenant and the landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court used the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations to calculate the fair rent.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument centered around the calculation method for the fair rent based on the Retail Price Index.
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 should ensure their fair rent is calculated according to the Rent Act 1977.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the tenancy agreement and relevant financial records.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, decisions like this can be appealed to a higher court.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?
It is recommended to seek legal advice from a solicitor for cases involving fair rent calculations.
