If you were renting your home from your landlord before the 15 January 1989 then you can ask a Rent Officer to decide what is a fair rent for your home. The amounts set by the Rent Officer must be charged by the landlord and paid by the tenant.
The Rent Officer is an official who is independent of both Spelthorne Council and the Government. He/she follows rules set out in the Rent Act 1977 to decide what a fair rent for a property would be. He/she will consider all the circumstances of the property and the tenancy but does not look at the personal circumstances of the tenant or the landlord.
When the Rent Officer sets a fair rent it is recorded in a register. If you are thinking of asking him or her to set a fair rent then you can ask to look at the register to see the level of rents in your local area before you apply for the rent to be set. Remember that a fair rent may not always be lower than the rent you currently pay.
If you would like more information contact:
Network Support Office – Housing Allowance Wycliffe House Green Lane Durham DH1 3UW
