One north London block of flats claimed back £26k in compensation
Renters are being warned about five things they should check to see if their landlord owes them money. In some cases, tenants could be awarded thousands of pounds in compensation for seemingly small things their landlord has been skipping out on.
London’s rental market is saturated and tenants are often left competing over properties. While there may be high-demand, it is still important for tenants to make sure that landlords are fulfilling all of their duties.
Speaking exclusively to MyLondon, Jonathon Inkley, education lead for London Renters Union, said there are five key things which renters need to be aware of when it comes to privately rented properties. In one case, a North London block of flats was able to collectively claim back £26,000 worth of rent through a Rent Repayment Order, after discovering their landlord wasn’t following one these government guidelines.
“Some landlords feel that tenants don’t know the law and that they are powerless, but when we show them that they do know their rights, they often will backpedal,” he told MyLondon. “The housing system is stacked in favour of landlords,” he added.
Those living in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) should always check that their landlord has a HMO license for their property. In some cases, tenants could be owed up to 12 months compensation in rent if their landlord hasn’t done this.
“HMOs have specific legal conditions on safety, fire doors, safety blankets – its not just about not having mould, its tenants’ lives that are at risk if the landlord doesn’t follow these regulations,” he told MyLondon. “Even though its so basic, many don’t bother getting a HMO license, thinking they can get away with it to save money and get more out of tenants – this is illegal.”
Tenants can then take their landlord to court and claim back compensation, or go to a renters union which can help pressure their landlord to settle outside of court. “It can make a real difference to the lives of renters living in illegally rented properties in finding a place in a better condition,” he said.
“Deposit protection is one of the biggest things we see, the housing system is stacked in favour of landlords and deposits are one example we give loads of money upfront to landlords who have to protect them – such a basic thing but in so many cases they don’t protect them,” said Mr Inkley.
There are three tenancy deposit schemes landlords can choose from, which tenants can check to see if their deposit has been protected. Landlords need to have protected a deposit within 30 days of receiving the money, or they may need to repay up to three times the amount of the original deposit, as long as the claim is made within six years.
Mr Inkley added: “Landlords will also often try to keep a lot of tenants deposit by saying they needed to fix things that were already broken or replace carpet and they don’t think they’ll get challenged. At London Renters Union, we’ve seen if its challenged through DPS mediation service landlords can’t deduct as much as they tried to.”
There are three more things that tenants should also be checking in every privately rented property – an energy efficiency certificate, gas and safety checks and that they received a how to rent guide from the landlord when they moved into the property. “Its worth renters checking they have all the correct paperwork form their landlord as this can sometimes protect them from an eviction,” he added.
Who can I contact for help with getting compensation?
If your tenancy deposit scheme hasn’t been protected, you can write to your landlord before going to court. Anyone who discovers their landlord has no HMO license can contact their local council for assistant in getting a Rent Repayment Order.
It can also be a good idea to get advice from a union, such as London Renters’ Union, or from the Citizens Advice Service, if you are experiencing landlord issues.
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