Tribunal Sets New Fair Rent for Property

OUTCOME: Allowed

FR24 First-tier Tribunal – Property Chamber File Ref No. MAN/00CG/F77/2024/0029

Notice of the Tribunal Decision

Rent Act 1977 Schedule 11

Address of Premises The Tribunal members were 16 [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

Judge Christopher Tonge LL B BA [NAME]

Landlord [NAME]

Tenant Mrs [APPELLANT]

1. The fair rent is 165.00 Per Week (excluding water rates and council tax but including any amounts in paras 3&4)

2. The effective date is 7 May 2024

3. The amount for services is 76.74 Per week

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

Included in point 3 is £18.58 Per week

5. The rent is 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

The tenant’s only representation was to refer to the large increase in rent and to then request that the Tribunal should not visit his property. Accordingly, the Tribunal did not inspect the property.

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 the same as/below the maximum fair rent of £206.74 per week prescribed by the Order.

Chairman C.P. Tonge Date of decision 7 May 2024

FR24 MAXIMUM FAIR RENT CALCULATION

LATEST RPI FIGURE x 383 March 2024

PREVIOUS RPI FIGURE y 294.3 September 2022

X 383 Minus y 294.3 = (A) 88.7

(A) 88.7 divided by y 294.3 = (B) 0.3013931

First application for re-registration since 1 February 1999, NO

If yes (B) plus 1.075 = (C)

If no (B) plus 1.05 = (C) 1.3513931

The last registered rent was £117, including a variable service charge of £20.82, therefore for these purposes the last registered rent was £96.18

Last registered rent* £96.18 Multiplied by (C) = £129.98

*(exclusive of any variable service charge)

Rounded up to nearest 50 pence = £130

Variable service charge / yes

If YES add amount for services

MAXIMUM FAIR RENT = £206.74 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 Committee'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.

76.74

FR24