FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
You don’t know what you don’t know…
Most tenants have never heard of Rent Repayment Orders — not because they’re rare, but because the laws behind them aren’t made clear to renters, and landlords rarely admit when they’ve broken them.
In many cases, there are no obvious signs that a property is unlicensed or unlawful.
What is a Rent Repayment Order (RRO)?
A Rent Repayment Order (RRO) is a legal way for tenants to claim back up to 24 months of rent from a landlord who has broken certain housing laws. One of the most common reasons is when a landlord fails to get a licence for a shared home (called a House in Multiple Occupation, or HMO) when the law requires it.
If your landlord has committed a qualifying offence, you could be entitled to reclaim rent — even if you’ve already moved out.
How much could I receive?
If successful, you could be awarded up to 100% of the rent you paid during the period your landlord was breaking the rules — up to a maximum of 24 months.
The exact amount depends on factors like the severity of the offence, the landlord’s conduct, and whether you’ve already received compensation another way.
Is this a scam?
We understand it sounds surprising — but Rent Repayment Orders are real and legally backed under the Housing and Planning Act 2016. Courts and tribunals across London award tenants thousands of pounds every month for landlord breaches.
London Tenant Services is not a law firm, but we help tenants understand their rights and support them through the RRO process. We only get paid if you do.
Why hasn’t the council done this already?
While councils can apply for RROs on a tenant’s behalf, they often have limited resources and only pursue the most serious cases.
In fact, the law gives tenants the right to apply for RROs themselves — which means you can take action even if your council hasn’t. LTS is here to help make that process easier.
Can I claim if I’ve already moved out?
Yes. You can still apply for a Rent Repayment Order even if you no longer live at the property — as long as the offence happened within the last 12 to 24 months, depending on the case.
The key is to act quickly, as there are legal time limits. Use our eligibility checker to see if you may qualify.
Do I need to go to court?
Most RRO claims are dealt with by a Property Tribunal, not a traditional court. In many cases, especially if the landlord doesn’t contest the claim, the process is done in writing without a hearing.
LTS supports you through every step — and in the rare cases where a hearing is needed, we can still assist in preparing you.
Are there upfront costs?
No. London Tenant Services operates on a no-win-no-fee basis — meaning you pay nothing upfront. We only take a small percentage of your award if your claim is successful and the landlord pays. If not, you owe us nothing.
How long does it take?
Most Rent Repayment Order cases take between 3 to 6 months from start to finish.
Delays can happen, especially if the landlord disputes the claim — but we work to keep your case moving and keep you informed at every step.
What’s your success rate?
London Tenant Services is a new tenant-focused service — so we’re building our track record. However, we base our approach on successful legal precedents and best practices used by other leading tenant advocacy groups.
Our service is carefully designed to take on only strong, eligible cases — and we don’t take on work unless we believe you have a realistic chance of success.
