Tribunal sets £215/week fair rent for assured tenancy in London
📌 In brief
The Tribunal has decided on a fair rent for a property, setting the weekly rent at £215.00. This includes a calculation of the maximum fair rent under the Rent Act 1977.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to have their rent assessed according to the Rent Act 1977, including a calculation of the maximum fair rent.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, including a calculation of the maximum fair rent.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, including a calculation of the maximum fair rent, setting the weekly rent at £215.00 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/00AD/F77/2023/0118
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 71 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME]
[COMPANY] (Exempt Charity)
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £215.00 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 30th May 2023
3. The amount for services is £10.64 Per week
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 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
Weekly Service Charge increased to £10.64 per week
8. For information only:
(a) 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 £215.00 per week including £10.64 .............................................................................................................. per week for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.
[NAME] Date of decision 30th May 2023
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 367.2
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 296.9
X 367.2 Minus Y 296.9 = (A) 70.3
(A) 70.3 Divided by Y 296.9 = (B) 0.2368
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) 0.2368+1.05=1.2868
Last registered rent* 166.17 Multiplied by (C) = 213.82 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 214.00
Variable service charge YES If YES add amount for services 10.64
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £224.64 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 £226.32 weekly rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Considering Variable Service Charges
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £264/week fair rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Tenancy Considering Market Scarcity
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £670.50 Monthly Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent at £337 per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £212.77 weekly rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £198/week Maximum Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £220/Week Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets New Fair Rent of £167.50 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £623.50/month 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 fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977.
- The fair rent calculation must reflect changes in the Retail Price Index.
- The fair rent should consider relevant orders and adjustments for property conditions.
- The calculation should adhere to the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
- The fair rent should be adjusted for scarcity and other relevant factors.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The fair rent does not adequately reflect market conditions and the state of repair of the property.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal set a new fair rent of £215.00 per week for an assured tenancy, excluding water rates and council tax but including service charges.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the calculation of a fair rent for an assured tenancy, specifically the amount to be charged per week.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set a new fair rent of £215.00 per week, following the calculation method under the Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11.
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 calculation of the fair rent using the latest Retail Price Index (RPI) figure and the previous registered rent.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, setting a fair rent of £215.00 per week.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can expect their fair rent to be calculated similarly, taking into account the latest RPI figure and previous registered rent.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.
