Tenant Support UK

Blue graphic showing text: “Kumar v Kolev – Only Direct Landlords Can Be Held Responsible” with a house and gavel icon, referencing RRO housing case law.

Kumar v Kolev [2024] – RROs Only Apply to Immediate Landlords, Tribunal Confirms

—

by

Luigi Garuzzi
in

“Disclaimer:Tenant Support UK is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice. All content on this website is for general informational purposes only, based on publicly available legal guidance and personal experience. If you need legal advice tailored to your situation, please consult a qualified solicitor or a trusted housing advice service.“

Tribunal: First-tier Tribunal
Date: 2024
Type: Rent Repayment Order (RRO) Jurisdiction and Liability

Background:

The tenant, Mr. Kumar, applied for a Rent Repayment Order on the basis that the HMO he was living in was unlicensed.
However, instead of claiming against his immediate landlord, he attempted to claim against a superior landlord (further up the ownership chain).

Legal Issue:

Can tenants bring RRO claims against superior landlords, or only against their direct landlord?

Decision:

The Tribunal ruled that, in line with the Supreme Court’s decision in Rakusen v Jepsen [2023] UKSC 9,

RROs can only be made against a tenant’s immediate landlord, the person or company they directly rent from.

Legal Impact:

  • This case reinforces the binding precedent from the Supreme Court in Rakusen.
  • Tenants must identify and pursue their immediate landlord, not superior property owners, when applying for RROs.
  • It also highlights the importance of understanding rental chains in HMOs and rent-to-rent setups.

Links:

Kumar v Kolev & Others [2024]

Apply for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO1)

Help With Fees

The Toolbox: 9 Ways to Fight Back Without Moving to Mars

  1. Shelter England – england.shelter.org.uk — 0808 800 4444.
  2. Citizens Advice Redditch & Bromsgrove – citizensadviceredditch.org.uk.
  3. TSUK Letters Templates – TenantSupportUK.com
  4. ACORN Community Union – acorntheunion.org.uk.
  5. Generation Rent – generationrent.org.
  6. Renters Reform Coalition – rentersreformcoalition.co.uk.
  7. Housing Ombudsman Service – housing-ombudsman.org.uk.
  8. Redditch Borough Council Housing Solutions – redditchbc.gov.uk/housing or call 01527 587 000.
  9. Tenancy Deposit Schemes – depositprotection.com (DPS) • tenancydepositscheme (TDS) • mydeposits.co.uk (MyDeposits)

Tenant Support UK

Comments

Please, leave your comment here