Guides › Rent and Deposits › Rent Repayment Orders: Getting Rent Back
Rent Repayment Orders: Getting Rent Back
A rent repayment order can make a landlord repay rent when they have committed certain offences, such as illegal eviction or harassment, letting an unlicensed HMO, ignoring an improvement notice, or misusing a possession ground. Tenants apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Which Offences Count
The Offences
Offences include: unlicensed HMOs or houses; failure to comply with an improvement notice or prohibition order; illegal eviction and harassment; violence for securing entry; breach of a banning order; knowingly or recklessly misusing a possession ground; letting or marketing within 12 months of using the moving-in or selling ground; and continuous breach of certain tenancy reform requirements. Cases are heard by the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- TribunalApply to the First-tier TribunalProperty Chamber
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check whether one of the listed offences applies.
Step 2 of 5
Gather evidence: tenancy agreement, rent payments, notices and messages.
Step 3 of 5
Ask your council whether the property needed a licence.
Step 4 of 5
Get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice.
Step 5 of 5
Apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Citizens Advice
Free advice on any renting problem.
First-Tier Tribunal / Local Council Trading Standards (Tenant Fees)
You were charged a prohibited fee or an excessive deposit.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Councils can also apply for rent repayment orders.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/guidance/rent-repayment-orders-offences-guidance-for-tenants Checked 13 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026
- gov.uk/government/publications/tenant-fees-act-amended-by-the-renters-rights-act-2025/tenant-fees-act-2019-statutory-guidance-for-enforcement-authorities Checked 12 October 2026