How to apply for a rent repayment order

What a rent repayment order is, who can apply, how to apply, what it costs, how to get help to apply.

What a rent repayment order is

A rent repayment order (RRO) allows you to claim back up to 24 months' rent if your landlord or letting agent has committed certain housing offences, which include:

  • illegally evicting or harassing you to leave the property
  • using violence to enter the property
  • not making improvements to the property after we've served a legal notice telling them to do so (not complying with an improvement notice)
  • letting or managing property after they've been banned from doing so (being in breach of a banning order)
  • letting a property or parts of property after we've served a notice telling them not to, or letting it to more people than we've said they can (not complying with a prohibition order)
  • letting or managing a property without a licence in an area where a licence is needed
  • letting or managing a house in multiple occupation (HMO) without a licence if a licence is needed
  • knowingly or recklessly misusing a possession ground
  • letting or marketing a property within twelve months of using the “moving in” or “selling” ground of eviction
  • continuously breaching certain tenancy reform requirements

From 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces more offences where you can claim a RRO, and extends the maximum amount of a claim up to 24 months' rent.

For more information visit Rent Repayment Orders: guidance for tenants (GOV.UK)

Who can apply for a rent repayment order

You can apply for a rent repayment order if:

  • you're a private tenant 
  • the offence took place while you were living in the property 
  • the claim in submitted on or after the 1 May 2026, and the offence was committed no more than two years before you make your application

How to apply for a rent repayment order

To apply for a rent repayment order, download and fill in the application form from GOV.UK.

You'll need to provide evidence that the offence happened. The landlord doesn't have to have been convicted of the offence.

Send your completed application form to the First Tier Tribunal at the address on the application form. More information is available on Rent Repayment Orders: guidance for tenants (GOV.UK).

Cost 

You'll need to send the appropriate fee when applying for a RRO.

You can pay by cheque or postal order. For current fees that apply for a rent repayment order applications see help with court fees on Get help paying court and tribunal fees (GOV.UK).

The First Tier Tribunal may decide to hold a hearing. If there is a hearing, you'll need to pay another fee. You can ask for these costs to be awarded back to you if your claim is successful

Get help to apply for a rent repayment order

We may be able to help you apply for a rent repayment order, for example providing information about an investigation or property licence:

If you're requesting information to help with your claim, it would be helpful if you can provide us with a:

Get help from other organisations

There are other organisations which may be able to help you with the process of applying for an RRO including:

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