Tribunal Determines Maximum Fair Rent for Property
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decided on the maximum fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977. They considered the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations to determine the fair rent.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999, resulting in a maximum fair rent of £159.00 per week for an assured tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a fair rent of £159.00 per week for an assured tenancy, applying the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the maximum fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations. The decision was made on 11 May 2023.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. TR/LON/00AM/F77/2023/0099
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
Mr [APPELLANT] [NAME]
Landlord [COMPANY]
Tenant Mr [APPELLANT] & [NAME] [APPELLANT] [NAME]
1. The fair rent is £159.00 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 11 May 2023
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 £ 211.00 ................. per week .......................... 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 £ ................... per .................... including £ ......................................... per ................................. for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.
Chairman A Harris
Date of decision 11 May 2023
FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 367.2
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 259.5
X 367.2 Minus Y 259.5 = (A) 107.7
(A) 107.7 Divided by Y 259.5 = (B) 0.41502
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) 1.46502
Last registered rent* £108.50 Multiplied by (C) = 158.96 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 159.00
Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £159.00 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 £212.84 weekly rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4167058
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £1962/qtr Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £998/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £222.50 Weekly Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £596.45/month rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £176.50 Weekly Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £357/Week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £360/week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £231.50 Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £238.50 weekly rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £261.50 Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
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 maximum fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977.
- The calculation takes into account the Retail Price Index.
- The fair rent is adjusted according to relevant regulations and orders.
- The tribunal determines the fair rent subject to statutory caps.
- The entitlement includes adjustments for specific conditions within statutory guidelines.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- No significant factors identified that went against the claimant in these cases.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The decision set a fair rent of £159.00 per week for an assured tenancy.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the calculation of a fair rent for an assured tenancy using the Retail Price Index (RPI) adjustment method.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set the fair rent at £159.00 per week, applying the RPI adjustment method as required by the Rent Act 1977.
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 application of the RPI adjustment method to determine the fair rent.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, setting the fair rent at £159.00 per week.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For someone in a similar situation, they can expect their fair rent to be calculated using the RPI adjustment method under the Rent Act 1977.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.
