Council boasts of forcing landlord to pay thousands to tenant
Summary
Haringey Council publicised a Rent Repayment Order after a First-tier Tribunal found a landlord had operated an unlicensed HMO and ordered repayment of £7,884.84 plus fees. The case arose from reports of mould, fire hazards and a collapsed ceiling, and the Tribunal noted a previous RRO involving another property, suggesting repeated non-compliance.
Why it matters
The case highlights the enforcement risk where HMO licensing, fire safety and basic property condition standards are not met. Surveyors involved in inspections, defect reporting or due diligence should note the combination of licensing breaches and physical hazards that can trigger tribunal action and local authority enforcement.
Key points
- Haringey Council investigated reports of mould, fire hazards and a collapsed ceiling.
- The First-tier Tribunal found the flat was an HMO requiring a licence throughout the tenancy.
- The landlord was ordered to repay £7,884.84 in rent plus £341 in fees.
- The Tribunal noted a previous Rent Repayment Order involving another property.
- The council said it is increasing inspections and enforcement against non-compliant landlords.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
