How to claim back up to 2 years of rent if your landlord has broken the law
Key points
- From 1 May 2026, you can claim up to two years of rent back if your landlord committed a qualifying housing offence — double the previous maximum.
- Your landlord does not need to have been convicted of a crime for you to apply; the First-tier Tribunal weighs the evidence itself.
- You have two years from the date of the offence to apply, so you can still claim even if the problem has since been fixed.
If your landlord has broken certain housing laws while you were renting from them, a tribunal can order them to pay you back up to two years of rent. This is called a rent repayment order (RRO).
Since 1 May 2026, the rules have improved. You can now claim back twice as much rent as before, and you have twice as long to apply.
What you can get
The First-tier Tribunal can order your landlord to repay up to two years of rent if they committed a qualifying offence during your tenancy.
Before 1 May 2026, the most you could claim was one year's rent. The maximum has now doubled.
Your landlord does not need to have been convicted of a crime. The tribunal looks at the evidence and reaches its own decision.
What kinds of offences count?
You can apply if your landlord committed one of the qualifying offences. Common examples include:
- renting out a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without the right licence
- illegally evicting you or harassing you to leave your home
- failing to follow an improvement notice issued by the council
- breaking a banning order that stops them managing or letting property
If the offence happened on or after 1 May 2026, you have two years from the date it happened to apply. For offences before that date, the old one-year time limit still applies.
How to apply
You apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). You do not need a lawyer, though getting advice first can save you time.
Steps to take:
- Write down what the offence was, when it happened, and any evidence you have — letters, photos, council notices, your tenancy agreement.
- Contact Citizens Advice or Shelter. Both offer free advice and can check whether your case is strong before you apply.
- Submit your application to the First-tier Tribunal.
You do not have to wait for your council or anyone else to take action first. You can apply yourself, on your own timeline, within the two-year window.
Search for your next property on DSSmove →Does it matter if the problem has since been fixed?
No. An RRO is about recovering rent for the period when the offence was committed. If your landlord has since licensed the property, made repairs, or stopped the illegal behaviour, you can still apply for the period when they were breaking the law.
Get free help
Citizens Advice and Shelter both have advisers who can check whether your situation qualifies, help you gather evidence, and guide you through the tribunal process.
Applying can feel like a big step, but advisers do this regularly and you do not need to pay a lawyer to apply.
Frequently asked questions
What if I am not sure whether my landlord committed a qualifying offence?
Contact Citizens Advice or Shelter — they can check your situation for free and tell you whether you have a case before you apply.
Can I still apply if I have moved out of the property?
Yes — you can apply as long as you were renting from that landlord when the offence happened and you apply within two years of the date it occurred.
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rent-repayment-orders-guidance-for-tenants