Tribunal Sets Maximum Fair Rent for Tenant Under Rent Act 1977
📌 In brief
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) has decided on the maximum fair rent for a property, setting it at £502.00 per month starting from December 16, 2025. This decision follows the calculation method specified in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to have their rent capped according to the Retail Price Index and relevant orders under the Rent Act 1977.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal determined the maximum fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977.
📜 Headnote Official document
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) determined the maximum fair rent for a property under the Rent Act 1977, setting the rent at £502.00 per month, effective from 16 December 2025, following the calculation method outlined in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
FR27 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. LON/OOBC/F77/2025/0252
Notice of the Tribunal Decision
Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11
Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 29 [NAME], Chigwell, Essex, [POSTCODE]
[NAME]
Landlord [COMPANY]
Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]
1. The fair rent is £502.00 Per Month (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)
2. The effective date is 16 December 2025
3. The amount for services is £24.90 Per month
negligible/not applicable
4. The amount for fuel charges (excluding heating and lighting of common parts) not counting for rent allowance is
n/a Per n/a
negligible/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.
7. Details (other than rent) where different from Rent Register entry
n/a
8. For information only:
(a) The fair rent to be registered is not the section 70 fair rent because the rent determined under the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 is lower.
[NAME] of decision 16 December 2025
FR27 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION
LATEST RPI FIGURE X 407.4
PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE Y 376.6
X 407.4 Minus Y 376.6 = (A) 30.80
(A) 30.80 Divided by Y 376.6 = (B) 0.0818
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) 1.1317
Last registered rent* £ 422.10 per month Multiplied by (C) = 477.69 *(exclusive of any variable service charge)
Rounded up to nearest 50p = 478.00
Variable service charge no If YES add amount for services 24.90
MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £502.90 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 11 similar decisions in this collection:
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Capped Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal sets £265.50 as fair rent for protected tenant
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Caps Fair Rent at Maximum Level Under Rent Act
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Tribunal Sets Fair Rent Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination Under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Sets Fair Rent for London Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal sets fair rent at £195 per week under Rent Act 1977
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) First-tier Tribunal Determines Fair Rent for Property
- First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fair Rent Determination for Tenancy Under Rent Act 1977
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 capped because the determined rent under the 1999 Order was lower than the section 70 fair rent.
- The maximum fair rent calculation used the latest RPI figure of 407.4.
- The previous RPI figure used in the calculation was 376.6.
- The calculation added 5% to the RPI change because it was not the first application for re-registration since February 1999.
- The last registered rent of £422.10 per month was used as the base for the calculation.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
It set the maximum fair rent for a property at £502.00 per month, effective from December 16, 2025.
Who was involved?
The tenant and the landlord were involved.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court used the calculation method specified in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 to determine the maximum 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 maximum fair rent using 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 ensure their rent is calculated according to the Rent Act 1977 and the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the previous registered rent and the latest Retail Price Index figure.
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 always recommended to seek advice from a qualified solicitor for cases involving rent regulations.
