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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Tribunal Sets Fair Rent of £876.50 Per Month

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decided on a fair rent of £876.50 per month for a tenancy. They used a specific formula based on the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to determine the rent.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation based on the Retail Price Index and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

Topics

fair renttenancy agreementrent regulation

Provisions

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

📖 Technical summary

The Tribunal determined a fair rent for a tenancy, applying the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined a fair rent of £876.50 per month for a tenancy, applying the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999. The Tribunal considered the latest Retail Price Index and previous registered rent to calculate the maximum fair rent.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/00AY/F77/2025/0329

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

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

[NAME] [RESPONDENT] [NAME] [NAME] [APPELLANT] [NAME]

Landlord [NAME]

Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT] & Mr [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is 876.50 Per month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 30 January 2026

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:

(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 £1,550 per month.

[NAME] [NAME] of decision 30 January 2026

FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 405.6

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 279.7

X 405.6 Minus Y 279.7 = (A) 125.9

(A) 125.9 Divided by Y 279.7 = (B) 0.450

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.500

Last registered rent* £584.00 Multiplied by (C) = £876.07 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £876.50

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £876.50 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.

© CROWN COPYRIGHT

Case Reference : LON/00AY/F77/2025/0329 Property : [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE] Tenant : Mrs [APPELLANT] & Mr [APPELLANT] Landlord : [NAME] of Objection : 3 November 2025 Type of Application : Section 70, Rent Act 1977 Tribunal Members : [NAME] [NAME] [NAME] [NAME] [NAME] [NAME] of Decision : 30 January 2026

_______________________________________________

DECISION

The sum of £876.50 per month will be registered as the fair rent with effect from 30 January 2026, being the date the Tribunal made the Decision. ____________________________________

FIRST - TIER TRIBUNAL PROPERTY CHAMBER (RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)

2 SUMMARY REASONS

Background 1. Following an objection from the Tenant to the determination of a fair rent by the Rent Officer, the Tribunal has made a determination under the provisions of the Rent Act 1977. Inspection 2. The Tribunal did not inspect the property but considered this case on the basis of the papers provided by the parties. Evidence 3. The Tribunal issued Directions on 4 December 2025 inviting the parties to complete Reply Forms. The Tenant completed a Reply Form. The Landlord did not.

4. The Tribunal has consideration of the documents provided by the Rent Officer, which include the Landlord’s original application form and the Tenant’s letter of objection.

5. The Property is a maisonette over first and second floors within a converted terraced house. It has two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen/diner and a bathroom. There is central heating and double glazing.

Determination and Valuation 6. Having consideration of our own expert, general knowledge of rental values in the area, we consider that the open market rent for the property in its current condition would be in the region of £2,100 per month. From this level of rent we have made adjustments in relation to: • The terms and conditions of the tenancy. • The Tenant having provided all white goods, floor and window coverings and other furnishings.

7. The Tribunal has also made an adjustment for scarcity. 8. The full valuation is shown below:

3

Per month MARKET RENT £2,100 Less Terms of tenancy ) Tenant's provision of white goods, furniture, etc ) approx. 7.5% £157.50 Market rent less deductions £1,942.50 Less scarcity approx. 20% £388.50 Market rent less deductions, services and scarcity £1,554.00 ADJUSTED MARKET RENT £1,550

9. The Tribunal determines a rent of £1,550 per month. Decision 10. The uncapped fair rent initially determined by the Tribunal, for the purposes of section 70, was £1,550 per month. The capped rent for the property according to the provisions of the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 is calculated at £876.50 per month. The calculation of the capped rent is shown on the decision form. In this case the lower rent of £876.50 per month is to be registered as the fair rent for this property.

11. The Tribunal notes that the current rent being paid is lower than the previously registered rent and that the Landlord has proposed a lower rent in their application form. The Landlord is entitled, but not compelled, to charge the Tenant rent at the registered figure from the effective date and may choose to charge a lower figure.

Chairman: [NAME] [NAME]: 30 January 2026

4 APPEAL PROVISIONS

These summary reasons are provided to give the parties an indication as to how the Tribunal made its decision. If either party wishes to appeal this decision, they should first make a request for full reasons and the details of how to appeal will be set out in the full reasons. Any request for full reasons should be made within a month. Any subsequent application for permission to appeal should be made on Form RP PTA.

📊 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 based on the Retail Price Index.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent reflecting the property's condition and market conditions.
  • The tenant is entitled to a capped fair rent as prescribed by the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent adjusted for improvements made by the tenant.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent determination that reflects the property's condition and market conditions, subject to statutory caps.

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

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

It decided on a fair rent of £876.50 per month for a tenancy.

Who was involved?

The tenant and the landlord were involved.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court used a formula based on the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate 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 method based on the Retail Price Index.

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

The decision was for the tenant who objected to the initial rent determination.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation can expect their fair rent to be calculated using the same formula.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The latest Retail Price Index and the previous registered rent were important for 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 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.