A Newham landlord who illegally evicted his tenant has had a rent repayment order imposed to the tune of £2,825. The property the tenant had been living in was an unlicensed HMO and was the only property that the landlord owned.

In looking at the surrounding circumstances of the case - which would include the behaviour, and thus also the culpability, of the parties - the First Tier Tribunal took into account the difference between a "professional landlord" and a non professional landlord. The tribunal found that although the landlord in this case owned just one property so was not a professional landlord, he had owned the property for more than 5 years and so " ..... should have been aware of the legal requirements of licensing.".

The tribunal did also take into £725 of rent arrears owed by the tenant in making its decision on the amount of the RRO.