The City of Westminster council has launched an online tool for tenants of houses in multiple occupation to check whether their landlord is properly licensed and reclaim up to 12 months rent if they are not.

The “online rent repayment tool” urges tenants to enter their details to find out whether they are eligible for a rent repayment order to be made against their landlord and estimates how much they could claim.

Explaining the purpose of the tool, the council’s website says: “Tenants of some shared houses, known as ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation’ (or HMOs) are entitled to apply for a rent repayment order if their landlord does not have an HMO licence.

“We have created an online rent repayment tool so you can quickly and easily see if you are owed a rent repayment order. 

“A rent repayment order is a financial award decided by a tribunal, requiring a landlord to pay back up to 12 months rent to a tenant.

“Payments are not guaranteed, but the amounts can be substantial.”

It goes on to say that if tenants are found to be eligible for a repayment, the council will ask for details and arrange a confidential conversation to discuss options and offer advice as to how to go about obtaining an order.

Westminster says it cannot take action directly on tenants’ behalf but can refer them to a charity partner.

It says that most compensation cases take at least four months to resolve.

Although the council says that landlords of unlicensed HMOs cannot evict tenants, it warns that if landlords apply for a licence they may be able to use Section 21 to evict tenants in the future.