Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Below Maximum Limit
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal decided on a fair rent of £790 per month for the tenant, which is below the maximum fair rent limit. This decision ensures the rent is reasonable and follows the guidelines set by the Rent Act 1977.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent set by the Tribunal below the maximum fair rent limit.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a fair rent of £790 per month, below the maximum fair rent limit.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tribunal determined a fair rent of £790 per month for the tenant, below the maximum fair rent limit of £852.50 per month, as calculated according to the Rent Act 1977.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AF/F77/2019/0140
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 30 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME] QC BA(LAW) LLM Miss M [COUNSEL] (EST MAN) FRICS
Landlord [APPELLANT]
Tenant Mr [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £790.00 Per Calendar Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 27 September 2019
3. The amount for services is N/A Per
negligible/not applicable
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 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
N/A
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 £852.50 per month.
[NAME] QC BA(LAW) LLM Date of decision 27.9.19
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 289.50
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 272.90
X 289.50 Minus Y 272.90 = (A) 16.6
(A) 16.6 Divided by Y 272.90 = (B) 0.060828
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) 0.110828
Last registered rent* 767.00 Multiplied by (C) = 852.01 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 852.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services -
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £852.50 Per Month
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 of £490 Per Month Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy Agreement
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Upholds Fair Rent Determination for Shared Ownership Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Residential Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy Agreement
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets New Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
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 Tribunal set the fair rent at £790.00 per calendar month.
- The fair rent was below the maximum fair rent limit, so the capping provisions did not apply.
- The maximum fair rent was calculated by increasing the previous registered rent by the percentage change in the retail price index.
- A 5% increase was added to the RPI change because this was not the first application for re-registration since February 1999.
- The last registered rent of £767.00 was multiplied by the calculated factor to determine the maximum fair rent.
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 £790 per month for the tenant, below the maximum fair rent limit.
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 calculations provided by the Rent Act 1977, ensuring the rent was fair and reasonable.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Rent Act 1977 and its Schedule 11 were applied to determine the fair rent.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the calculation showing the fair rent was below the maximum fair rent limit.
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?
For tenants in similar situations, this means they can seek a fair rent determination that adheres to the Rent Act 1977 guidelines.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the calculation of the maximum fair rent based on the Retail Price Index and the previous registered rent.
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 qualified solicitor for cases involving fair rent determinations.
