Rent Repayment Order
(RRO)
A Rent Repayment Order is an order made by the First-tier Tribunal requiring a landlord to repay up to 12 months' rent to a tenant or to the local authority where Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs have been paid. RROs can be applied for where a landlord has committed certain housing offences, including letting an unlicensed property, failing to comply with an improvement notice, or engaging in unlawful eviction.
A Rent Repayment Order (RRO) can be applied for by a tenant (or local authority) at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) where a landlord has committed one of the 'housing offences' listed in Chapter 4 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016. These include: operating an unlicensed HMO or property in a selective licensing area, breaching a banning order, using violence to enter or remain in the property, harassing a tenant, and failing to comply with an improvement notice. An RRO can require repayment of up to 12 months' rent paid during the period of the offence; the tribunal has discretion over the amount. The Criminal standard of proof applies (the tribunal must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the offence was committed). Tenants can apply for an RRO up to 12 months after the offence ends. Tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs can also apply; the repayment then goes to the claimant, not back to DWP.