A private landlord has won a case before the First-tier Tribunal following an unsuccessful Rent Repayment Order (RRO) claim filed by tenants.

The tribunal determined that the landlord had fulfilled all necessary licensing requirements but was adversely affected by administrative errors within Southwark Council in London.

The ruling highlighted that the landlord, represented by a legal firm, had applied for and paid for the required HMO licence back in late 2018. However, due to shortcomings in the council’s licensing system, the application was neither properly processed nor recorded in its database.

Although the council's licensing department eventually admitted that the landlord had followed the correct procedures, the tenants chose to move forward with their application based on outdated and incorrect information previously provided by the council.

The tribunal uncovered numerous discrepancies in the tenants' claims and noted that their complaints against the landlord were minor in nature and mostly unsupported by evidence.

Further accusations regarding the condition of the property were determined to be overstated and lacking credibility.

The tribunal voiced serious concerns about inconsistencies in the council’s records, which had contributed to the misinformation underpinning the tenants’ claim. It further declined to award any reimbursement for the applicants’ legal costs.

As a result of the ruling, the landlord was spared an unfair liability of £29,000 in rent repayment demands.

The firm representing highlighted this case as a stark reminder of the potential risks landlords face when councils mishandle their record-keeping responsibilities. The organization also emphasized the critical role of expert representation in successfully navigating Rent Repayment Order disputes.

A spokesperson for the service says: “This was an appalling case of a landlord being dragged through a legal process for something they had already complied with.

“Had it not been for our forensic case preparation and the ability to demonstrate Southwark’s failures, this landlord could have suffered an unjust financial penalty.