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AllowedFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)·

Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977

Case No.

📌 In brief

The First-tier Tribunal decided on a fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, setting the monthly rent at £378 excluding water rates and council tax but including service charges. The decision was based on applying a specific formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

⚖️ Legal holding

A tenant is entitled to have their fair rent calculated according to the prescribed formula when seeking re-registration of rent under the Rent Act 1977.

Topics

fair rentRent Act 1977rent registration

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, applying the formula set out in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.

📜 Headnote Official document

The First-tier Tribunal determined the fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, applying the formula set out in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999. The tenant applied to re-register their rent and the tribunal calculated it at £378 per month.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. BIR/44UF/F77/2023/0018

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 31 [ADDRESS] [POSTCODE]

[NAME] [NAME] [APPELLANT]

[APPELLANT]

[NAME]

1. The fair rent is £378 Per Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 9 October 2023

3. The amount for services is £29.34 Per Month

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

None

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 £398 per month including £29.34 per month for services (variable) prescribed by the Order.

[NAME] of decision 9 October 2023

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE X 376.6

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 301.9

X 376.6 Minus Y 301.9 = (A) 74.7 (A) 74.7 Divided by Y 301.9 = (B) 0.2474329

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999 NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C) -

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.05 + 0.2474329 = 1.2974329

Last registered rent* £306.5 Multiplied by (C) = £397.66 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50p = £398

Variable service charge NO If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £398 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:

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 determined by the Tribunal based on market rent levels.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent that reflects the current market conditions.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent calculation under the Rent Act 1977.
  • The tenant is entitled to a fair rent that reflects the property's condition.

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 a property at £378 per month.

Who was involved?

A tenant applied to re-register their rent, and the landlord opposed it.

How did the court decide, and why?

The Tribunal used a formula from the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to calculate the fair rent.

Which laws or rules were applied?

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

What was the argument that mattered most?

The tenant's application to re-register their rent under a specific formula.

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

For the tenant, as they received the fair rent calculation they sought.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone can apply to re-register their rent under the Rent Act 1977 if they believe it is unfair.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The application form and relevant legislation were key.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, decisions from the First-tier Tribunal can often be appealed to the Upper Tribunal.

Is it worth getting a solicitor for a case like this?

It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified solicitor for such cases.

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.