Landlord thwarts £17,000 tenant rent repayment claim

A £17,000 rent repayment claim against a private landlord has been overturned, thanks to the intervention of Landlord Licensing & Defence.

The case, initiated by Justice for Tenants, alleged that the landlord failed to secure a necessary selective licence for the property.

However, the claim unravelled before it could proceed to a Tribunal, marking a triumph for landlords.

Admitted defeat

The accusation hinged on the landlord’s supposed non-compliance with licensing rules.

However, Landlord Licensing & Defence presented compelling evidence that the landlord had submitted a valid licence application to Lewisham council years earlier.

That application adhered fully to the Housing Act 2004.

Although the council had not issued a final licence, the active application provided airtight legal protection.

Confronted with this robust defence, Justice for Tenants’ representative admitted defeat and withdrew the claim.

Lesson in law

Desmond Taylor, casework director at Landlord Licensing & Defence, said: “They came for £17,000, and left with nothing but a lesson in the law.

“Once again, we’ve demonstrated that we don’t just know the law — we enforce it properly.”

He added: “If a licence is duly applied for and the local authority sits on its hands, that’s their failure, not the landlord’s.

“Lewisham took the money, acknowledged the application and failed to follow through. That’s not a criminal offence – it’s a bureaucratic cock-up.”

Another full dismissal

The firm’s legal success echoes a previous win in February 2025, when it achieved a full dismissal in another case.

Again, that affirmed that a valid licence application shields landlords from rent repayment claims.

The firm says it will continue to champion landlords’ rights, providing legal expertise and support to navigate complex landlord regulations.