First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Decision — Case 4135394
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) has set a fair rent for a property at £254.00 every two weeks, following the guidelines of the Rent Act 1977.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent assessment under the Rent Act 1977, provided the calculated rent does not exceed the maximum fair rent limit of £271.50 per month, as seen in this case.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a fair rent of £254.00 per fortnight for an assured tenancy, below the maximum fair rent limit.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) set a fair rent of £254.00 per fortnight for a property, excluding water rates and council tax but including fuel charges, as per the Rent Act 1977.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. MAN/00CX/F77/2024/0085
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 35 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
[NAME] Ms [APPELLANT]
Landlord [APPELLANT]
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is 254.00 Per Fortnight (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 09 September 2024
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
0.00 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
8. For information only:
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 £271.50 per month.
[NAME] of decision 09 September 2024
FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 387.5
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 337.1
X 387.5 Minus Y 337.1 = (A) 50.4
(A) 50.4 Divided by Y 337.1 = (B) 0.1495
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.1995
Last registered rent* £226 Multiplied by (C) = £271.09 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £271.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £271.50 Per Fortnight
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 £1904/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent of £316.00 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £1,100/month rent for assured tenancy in Harrow
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £163/week rent for assured tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £229.84 Weekly Rent for Assured Tenancy in London
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £3178.82/month Rent for Assured Tenancy in Northumberland
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £754/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in Rainham
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Tenancy Agreement
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £1792/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in Richmond
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Tenant Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Upholds £728/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in West Hampstead
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets £1,008/Month Fair Rent for Assured Tenancy in New Malden
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 determined a fair rent of £254.00 per fortnight for the premises.
- The effective date for the new fair rent was set as 09 September 2024.
- The registered fair rent was not limited by the maximum fair rent order because it was below the calculated maximum.
- The calculation used a 5% increase because it was a second or subsequent application since February 1999.
- The maximum fair rent was calculated by increasing the previous registered rent by the percentage change in the retail price index.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal set the fair rent for an assured tenancy at £254.00 every two weeks.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about setting a fair rent for an assured tenancy under the Rent Act 1977.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to set the fair rent at £254.00 every two weeks, based on the maximum fair rent calculation under 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 calculation of the maximum fair rent based on the Retail Price Index (RPI) changes.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, as the fair rent was set according to their request.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation can expect a fair rent assessment based on the Rent Act 1977 and the maximum fair rent calculation.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents that mattered.
