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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Tribunal sets fair rent for property under Rent Act 1977

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decided on the fair rent for a property, setting it at £220 per week. This decision was made according to the Rent Act 1977 and the calculation of the maximum fair rent under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the Retail Price Index and relevant regulations.

Topics

fair rentmaximum fair rentrent act 1977

Provisions

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, considering the maximum fair rent calculation.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the fair rent for a property, setting it at £220 per week, excluding water rates and council tax but including service charges. The decision was based on the Rent Act 1977 and the calculation of the maximum fair rent under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00BA/F77/2024/0092

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 6 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]

[NAME]

Landlord [COMPANY]

Tenant [NAME]

1. The fair rent is £220 Per week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 9 July 2024

3. The amount for services is £6.68 Per week

negligible/not applicable

4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is

nil Per

negligible/not applicable

5. The rent is 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

Semi detached house 1920’s. Brick walls, double pitched hipped single clay lap tiled roof in fair condition exterior front. GF 1 room kitchen shower/WC . FF 3 rooms. No CH, No double glazing. Basic kitchen and bathroom only, no carpets curtains white goods, damp and mould to 2 bedrooms.

8. For information only: Section b applies here.

(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 …….. per week …… including £ …………… 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 £286.68 including £6.68 ................................... per week ........................ for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.

[NAME] of decision 9 July 2024

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 386.40

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 308.60

X 386.40 Minus Y 308.60 = (A) 77.80

(A) 77.80 Divided by Y 308.60 = (B) 0.2521

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) 1.3021

Last registered rent* 221.50 pw (ex 6.68 SC) Multiplied by (C) = 279.72 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = 280

Variable service charge YES / NO If YES add amount for services 6.68 pw

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £286.68 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 fair rent was determined to be £220 per week, excluding water rates and council tax.
  • The effective date for the fair rent decision was set as 9 July 2024.
  • An amount of £6.68 per week was included for services in the fair rent calculation.
  • The capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 were applied to the rent.
  • The fair rent registered was not limited by the Maximum Fair Rent Order because it was below the calculated maximum of £286.68.

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

The decision set the fair rent for a property at £220 per week.

Who was involved?

The decision involved a tenant and a landlord.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court decided based on the Rent Act 1977 and the calculation of the maximum fair rent under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

Which laws or rules were applied?

The Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 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.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation should consider the Rent Act 1977 and the relevant regulations when seeking a fair rent determination.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The evidence included the property details and the calculation of the maximum fair 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 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.