What is a Rent Repayment Order — and am I eligible?
A Rent Repayment Order (RRO) is a legal order that forces a landlord to repay rent to a tenant, made by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) when the landlord has broken specific housing laws.
What makes a landlord eligible for an RRO claim against them
You can apply for an RRO if your landlord has, at any point during your tenancy:
- Let out an unlicensed HMO or a property requiring selective licensing without one
- Ignored a council improvement notice or prohibition order
- Illegally evicted or harassed you
- Failed to comply with a banning order
- Used violence to enter the property unlawfully
- Committed an offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977
Most successful claims involve the first two — licensing failures are the easiest to prove, since your local council holds the licensing register and will confirm in writing whether a property was licensed.
How much rent you could get back
The Tribunal can order repayment of up to 12 months' rent for offences before 1 May 2026, rising to 24 months' rent for the period from that date, under the Renters' Rights Act. It isn't automatic — the Tribunal weighs the landlord's conduct, your conduct as a tenant, and their financial circumstances. Typical awards fall between 40% and 100% of the rent paid over the claim period; providers in this space typically charge a success fee between 20% and 36% of whatever you're awarded.
The eligibility checklist
You likely have a claim worth checking if:
- You paid rent to a private landlord (not a resident landlord who lives in the property with you)
- The tenancy fell within the last 12-24 months (or the offence is ongoing)
- One of the offences above applies
- You can point to some evidence — a council licensing search, correspondence, or your tenancy agreement
Free eligibility check
ReclaimRent's checker takes about 4 minutes and tells you straight away whether you have grounds to claim, with no details shared with your landlord. From there:
- Free Tier: build your own evidence pack and RRO1 application, no cost
- ReclaimRent Pro: full tribunal representation, no-win-no-fee — 32% of your award, nothing if you don't win
Sources: GOV.UK — RRO guidance for tenants · GOV.UK — RRO offences guidance · Shelter — RRO from 1 May 2026
Think your landlord's property might be an unlicensed HMO? Read that guide →