LATEST: Both landlord and property manager told to pay £24,000 RRO to tenants

Four tenants have been awarded an equal share of a £24,000 rent repayment order despite the managing agent’s lawyer trying to discredit them during a First Tier Property Tribunal hearing.

Landlord MPL Estates and Wisteria Management must split the fine after the tribunal ruled that the unlicensed property – a three-bedroom flat in Fieldgate Street in Whitechapel, East London – was in a selective licensing area from January 2020 to January 2021.

The tribunal heard that the building was inadequately maintained; tenants cited a faulty fire alarm, broken radiator, water leaking through a ceiling light socket and a toilet which fell off the wall.

One said they had frequently asked the landlord to do repairs and that their deposit had not been returned so that at one stage the occupancy become unprotected.

unsubstantiated allegations

Mr Mohmed, representing Wisteria Management, was barred from taking part in the hearing apart from making a brief statement at the end when he made unsubstantiated allegations of fraud about the tenants and their lawyer.

The tribunal said it was not impressed by his behaviour, as he had also failed to engage with the proceedings until the day before the hearing.

Mohmed claimed he had moved house and hadn’t received the documents.

The tribunal said: “Given that he works from a business address the tribunal did not find this excuse plausible. He claimed that the property did not need a licence during the period when the tenants occupied the property but produced no evidence to support this.”

Read more about rent repayment orders.

It added: “Even if the selective scheme had not been applicable the property would still have remained licensable under additional HMO licensing given the number of occupants and the nature of the accommodation.

“Similarly, Mr Mohmed alleged damage caused to the property by the tenants but had no substantiated evidence in support of his contention.”

Read more: do you have permission to rent your property out?

Read the tribunal decision in full.