A tenant has successfully claimed almost £8,000 in refunded rent from a landlord following a tribunal ruling concerning an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The First-tier Tribunal ordered the landlord of a Muswell Hill property to repay £7,884.84, along with an additional £341 for application and hearing fees.
The case stemmed from an investigation by Haringey Council after concerns were raised about the property's conditions. Reports included issues such as mould, fire safety concerns, and a collapsed ceiling. The former tenant, who lived in the property between May 2023 and May 2024, applied for a Rent Repayment Order after discovering the landlord did not possess the required HMO licence.
The tribunal determined that the Leaside Avenue property met the legal definition of an HMO, requiring a licence throughout the tenancy. The landlord's failure to obtain this licence constituted an offence. The decision also noted the landlord's previous record, including a separate Rent Repayment Order for another property, indicating a pattern of non-compliance with licensing requirements.