Monday 3 Aug. 2026
“No win, no fee” sounds like the perfect deal. You don't pay upfront. The solicitor takes the risk. If you win, they get paid. But for certain tenant claims, particularly unprotected deposit claims and Rent Repayment Orders (RROs), it can be worth thinking twice.
The problem is simple, the more your claim is worth, the more a percentage-based fee can cost you. Take an unprotected deposit. If your landlord was required to protect your deposit and didn't, a court can order repayment of the deposit and compensation of up to 3 times the deposit. Say your deposit was £1,500, your potential statutory compensation could be Up to £4,500. If a solicitor takes a percentage of your recovery, a significant chunk of that money could disappear in legal fees. That's not necessarily a bad deal if the case is genuinely complicated. But ask yourself, Is an unprotected deposit really worth giving away thousands to pursue?
RROs are even more interesting Rent Repayment Orders allow eligible tenants in England to recover rent from landlords who have committed certain housing offences. For qualifying offences committed from 1 May 2026, the rules can allow tenants to seek repayment of up to two years' rent, subject to the statutory requirements and Tribunal's assessment. That could mean claims worth: £10,000, £15,000, £20,000+. And RROs are brought through the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). The Tribunal's guidance says parties will generally pay their own legal costs, and the government provides specific guidance explaining how tenants can make an RRO application themselves. So the question becomes, Do you actually need a solicitor to run the entire claim?
You don't necessarily have to choose between “solicitor” and “do it yourself”
This is where tenants often miss an important middle ground.
You can get help with:
checking whether you have a claim;
calculating potential compensation;
identifying missing evidence;
organising documents;
preparing a chronology;
preparing correspondence;
understanding the Tribunal process; and
preparing for a hearing.
Without necessarily handing over a large percentage of your compensation.
You remain the claimant. You make the decisions. You present your own case. And importantly, the government itself provides guidance specifically designed to help tenants navigate RRO applications.
“But it's free if I lose!” Not necessarily. The SRA warns that “no win, no fee” does not automatically mean there are no costs or financial risks. Depending on the agreement, there can be success fees, disbursements and potentially other costs to consider. Before signing anything, ask yourself, What percentage do you take if I win? Are there additional costs? What happens if I settle early? And most importantly how much will I actually take home?
So What Does It Mean To Hire A Solicitor
For complicated cases, professional representation can be extremely valuable. If your case involves complex evidence, expert witnesses, serious disrepair, multiple legal issues or difficult litigation, a solicitor may be exactly what you need. The point is simply: Don't automatically give away a large percentage of your compensation for a claim that you may be capable of pursuing yourself. Especially when the law already provides accessible routes for tenants to bring certain claims. Your landlord broke the rules. Don't let your legal fees eat the compensation.
This article is general information, not legal advice. RROs discussed above apply to England; Wales has a different legal framework.