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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Below Maximum Limit

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal has decided on a fair rent of £148 per week for a property in West Midlands. This rent is below the maximum fair rent allowed under the Rent Act 1977. The calculation takes into account changes in the retail price index.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to a fair rent set by the Tribunal, subject to the maximum fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977.

Topics

fair rentmaximum fair renttenancy

Provisions

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal set a fair rent of £148 per week, below the maximum fair rent of £169.50.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal set a fair rent of £148 per week, below the maximum fair rent of £169.50, for a property in West Midlands. The decision was based on the Rent Act 1977 and the calculation of the maximum fair rent.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/00CU/F77/2023/0006

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 4 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

[NAME] Mr [APPELLANT]

Landlord Mrs [APPELLANT]

Tenant Mr [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is £148 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 03/07/2023

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 apply (please see calculation overleaf).

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

None

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 below the maximum fair rent of £169.50 per week) prescribed by the Order.

[NAME] of decision 03/07/2023

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 375.3

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 293.5

X 375.3 Minus Y 293.5 = (A) 81.8 (A) 81.8 Divided by Y 293.5 = (B) 0.27870

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 YES/NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C) N/A

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.3287

Last registered rent* £127.50 Multiplied by (C) = £169.40 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £169.50

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

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £169.50 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 tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977.
  • The fair rent is determined by the condition of the property and market comparables.
  • The Retail Price Index is used to calculate the maximum fair rent.
  • Costs not related to the rent calculation are excluded.
  • The rent is not registered as variable.

❌ 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?

The Tribunal set a fair rent of £148 per week, below the maximum fair rent of £169.50.

Who was involved?

The tenant and the landlord were involved in the case.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court decided based on the calculation of the maximum fair rent under the Rent Act 1977.

Which laws or rules were applied?

The Rent Act 1977 and its Schedule 11 were applied.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The argument that mattered most was the calculation of the maximum 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, setting a fair rent below the maximum limit.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation can expect their fair rent to be set according to the same criteria.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The retail price index figures and the previous registered rent were important in the calculation.

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 always recommended to seek advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving fair rent determinations.

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.