Tenant wins almost £8,000 rent repayment order
Summary
Haringey Council has highlighted a successful Rent Repayment Order after a tenant recovered nearly £8,000 from a landlord who operated an unlicensed HMO in Muswell Hill. The case involved reported mould, disrepair, and fire safety failings, and the tribunal found the property required a licence throughout the tenancy.
Why it matters
For residential property surveyors, the case underscores the importance of identifying HMO licensing issues, disrepair, and fire safety risks during inspections and reporting. It also reflects increasing local authority enforcement activity around private rented sector compliance.
Key points
- Tenant recovered £7,884.84 plus fees through a Rent Repayment Order
- Tribunal found the property was an HMO and required a licence
- Reported defects included mould, a collapsed ceiling, blocked facilities and exposed pipework
- Fire safety concerns included missing fire doors and smoke alarms
- Haringey Council says it is increasing inspections and enforcement
Organisations:
Haringey Council, First-tier Tribunal, Private Renters Forum
Regulations:
House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence, Rent Repayment Order
Locations:
Haringey, Muswell Hill, Leaside Avenue
Read the original article
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
