Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £850 Per Month Under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decided on a fair rent of £850 per month for a rented property, taking into account the Retail Price Index and the previous registered rent under the Rent Act 1977.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to a fair rent set by the Tribunal under the Rent Act 1977, taking into account the Retail Price Index and previous registered rent.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal set a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, considering the Retail Price Index and previous registered rent.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined a fair rent of £850 per month for a property, considering the Retail Price Index and previous registered rent under the Rent Act 1977.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AH/F77/2020/0080
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 313 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
Mrs [RESPONDENT]
Landlord [APPELLANT]
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £850 Per month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 30 April 2021
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
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 £ 897.50 per month prescribed by the Order.
[NAME] of decision 30 April 2021
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 296
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 278.1
X 296 Minus Y 278.1 = (A) 17.9
(A) 17.9 Divided by Y 278.1 = (B) 0.06437
First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO
If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)
If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.11437
Last registered rent* £805 Multiplied by (C) = £897.06 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = £897.50
Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £897.50 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) First-tier Tribunal sets maximum fair rent for property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £104.00 Per Week
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Below Maximum Limit
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £624 Per Month
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets fair rent of £600 under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for Property Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Below Maximum Limit
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 set at £850 per month, excluding water rates and council tax.
- The effective date for the new fair rent was determined to be April 30, 2021.
- The capping provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 apply to this case.
- 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 a second or subsequent application since February 1, 1999.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
It set a fair rent of £850 per month for a rented property.
Who was involved?
A tenant and a landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court considered the Retail Price Index and the previous registered rent to determine the fair rent.
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 fair rent using the Retail Price Index and the previous registered rent.
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 Retail Price Index and the previous registered rent when seeking a fair rent.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The Retail Price Index figures and the previous registered rent were important in determining the 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.
