[2025] UKUT 301 (LC)

Mr Rees’s right of appeal is confined to an appeal on a point of law under s.65A of the Rent Act 1977. That provision applies only to appeals from rent assessment committees, which now sit only in Wales. In England, disputes over increases in residential rent (typically under the Rent Act 1977 or the Housing Act 1988) are determined by the First-tier Tribunal (the FTT). Under s.11, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, a right of appeal from a decision of the FTT lies to the Upper Tribunal on a point of law but permission to appeal is first required. In contrast, s.65A of the Rent Act 1977 says nothing about obtaining permission to appeal. Nor do the 2022 Regulations. As a result, there is an unrestricted right of appeal on a point of law to this Tribunal from a decision of a Rent Assessment Committee. Decisions of Rent Assessment Committees are, in this respect, similar to the Agricultural Land Tribunal in Wales from which a right of appeal also lies to this Tribunal without a requirement to obtain permission (see Adams v Jones [2021] UKUT 9 (LC)).