A 2023 Commercial Road decision shows why a rent repayment order should be described precisely. It was an award to tenants, not a £15,303 criminal fine, and the historical outcome is not a promise of what another applicant will recover today.
The recorded decision
On 3 August 2023, the First-tier Tribunal made rent repayment orders totalling £15,303 against MPL Estates Limited and Wisteria Management Limited concerning Flat 3, 93–95 Commercial Road, London. Each of the three applicants was awarded £5,101. The tribunal also ordered repayment of £300 in tribunal fees.
The companies were jointly and severally liable. The decision explained that this did not allow the applicants to collect the total twice. The application concerned control or management of an unlicensed house. This account reports the published decision; it does not establish whether the money was subsequently collected.
Use current guidance for a new claim
The government’s tenant guidance distinguishes offences committed before 1 May 2026 from those covered by the newer rules. It explains that the earlier rules generally allowed a maximum of one year’s rent and required an application within one year of the offence, compared with two years under the newer framework. A reader should therefore check the relevant dates before using an old case as a model.
An application also needs evidence. Government guidance says the applicant must prove every element of the offence beyond reasonable doubt. A previous criminal conviction is not a prerequisite. The tribunal decides whether an application succeeds and what amount is payable; an allegation alone is not an entitlement to a refund.
Make the paperwork easier to understand
For a prospective applicant, a sensible first step is a dated file containing the tenancy agreement, payment records and correspondence about the property. Keep facts you can document separate from assumptions, and ask a housing adviser to check eligibility and the applicable time limit.
For property owners, the same case is a reason to keep the licensing position and the identity of the contracting landlord clear. A confusing management arrangement can make a dispute harder to resolve. Treat this as a historical case study and a prompt to check today’s guidance, rather than a substitute for advice on an individual claim.
Sources: First-tier Tribunal, LON/00BG/HMF/2023/0041, decision of 3 August 2023; GOV.UK rent repayment order guidance for tenants, updated 1 May 2026. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64ccd2263c45640012942a1f/Commercial_Road_-_final_decision.pdf https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rent-repayment-orders-guidance-for-tenants