Updated Wednesday 30 Sept. 2026
Rent Repayment Order Success stories : Unlicensed HMO addition
Finding out that your rented home may have been an unlicensed HMO can be surprising. But finding out that you could potentially reclaim a significant amount of rent is even more surprising. Rent Repayment Orders (RROs) allow eligible tenants to seek repayment of rent where their landlord has committed certain housing offences, including managing or controlling an HMO that should have been licensed but wasn't. The published tribunal decisions tell a more interesting story than the headline rules alone.
£16,224: Three tenants, one unlicensed HMO
In a flat in, London, three tenants brought an RRO claim against their landlord.
The tribunal found that the property was an HMO that required a licence and that the landlord had committed the offence of managing an unlicensed HMO. The tenants were awarded a combined £16,224. That's £5,408 each. The award covered a 12-month period during which the property was being operated without the required licence. It is a useful example of something tenants sometimes overlook, the amount at stake can become substantial when several tenants are claiming rent for the same property.
Prentice, Bladen and Hill v Banks (2025)
LON/00BE/HMF/2024/0252
£7,225: Winning doesn't always mean getting all the rent back
In another London case in South London, tenants successfully established that their property was an unlicensed HMO. But they didn't receive every pound they had claimed. The tribunal ultimately awarded, £7,225. The award represented approx. 35% of the relevant rent after the tribunal considered the circumstances of the case. That's an important reality of RROs, proving the offence and deciding the amount of repayment are two different questions. An unlicensed-HMO claim isn't necessarily a simple calculation of "rent paid = money refunded."
Chinn & Ors v Hoilund-Carlsen & Anor (2026)
LON/00BE/HMF/2025/0614
There are unsuccessful claims as well!
Not every claim succeeds though. Perhaps the most important stories are the ones where tenants didn't win. In Lewes, tenants alleged that their six-bedroom property was an unlicensed HMO. But the tribunal found that the property actually had a valid HMO licence covering the relevant period. A such, the RRO claim failed!
Chivers & Ors v Angela Gail Brooks (2025)
HAV/21UF/HMF/2025/0601
Final Takeaway : How can a tenant get the maximum
The final amount awarded in an RRO is not simply about proving that a breach occurred. The circumstances surrounding the breach can matter too, including the tenant’s conduct, the respondent’s conduct, and the seriousness and duration of the breaches established by the evidence. That means tenants should be extremely careful to follow their own obligations throughout the process. Keep communications factual and professional, never threaten or harass the landlord, and continue complying with the terms of the tenancy wherever possible. At the same time, don’t overlook the landlord’s side of the equation. If there are additional, genuine breaches or failures to comply with legal obligations, document them carefully. That could include issues such as disrepair, harassment or improper conduct, failures to provide required information, licensing breaches, deposit-protection failures, or other statutory obligations that have not been met. The key is not to exaggerate or manufacture complaints. Instead, identify every relevant breach that can actually be supported by evidence, state clearly what obligation was breached, and preserve the evidence showing when and how it happened.
In other words: follow the rules yourself, document the other side’s conduct, and make sure every established breach is clearly identified and evidenced. The cases show that the details can materially affect the overall picture when a tribunal considers an RRO claim.
This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or legal representation. The information and case details referenced are drawn solely from publicly available legal records and other public-domain sources. Any names, personal details, properties or case outcomes are reproduced only as publicly recorded and are not intended to cast any individual or organisation in a particular light. Our website does not independently allege, investigate, or make findings about the individuals or matters discussed beyond what is stated in the underlying public records. Readers should verify the current law and seek independent legal advice regarding their own circumstances.
Calculate How Much Your RRO Claim Is Worth
Check HMO register For License