The reduction of fan broadband noise in the next generation of Ultra-High By-pass-Ratio (UHBR) engines remains a key technology challenge for the foreseeable future. The Over-Tip-Rotor (OTR) liner concept has been studied as a technology with the potential to further reduce fan noise and significant noise reductions have been measured. This paper describes a fundamental experimental evaluation that represents the Over-Tip-Rotor liner as a static airfoil with its tip located over a flat plate containing a flush-mounted lined insert and separated from the airfoil tip by a small gap. Differences in measured far-field sound spectra and in source power estimates derived from post-processed spiral array data have shown broadband gap noise reductions of 5-10 dB, even in the absence of a tip gap. Over-tip liners are found to suppress noise sources when located in the immediate vicinity, irrespective of the generation mechanism, mainly due to back-reaction effects on the source. An analytical prediction model for the over-tip liner noise reduction, based on a point source located over an infinite lined plane, is evaluated and compared with the experimental data. The model captures the back-reaction effects and provides qualitative agreement with the measured data, including the variation of noise reduction with increasing gap size.