office@cook-law.co.uk
0151 665 0320The story hitting headlines this week is a reminder that no landlord is above the law. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has admitted that her London property was rented out without the required landlord licence.
While this might sound like a technical oversight, it’s not. Letting a property without a licence isn’t just a paperwork issue – it’s a legal breach that can have serious consequences. And for tenants, it can open the door to claiming back rent or even claiming tenancy deposit compensation where proper protection wasn’t provided.
What actually happened
Reeves let out her family home in Southwark, one of the many London boroughs where selective licensing now applies to most privately rented homes. Her letting agency failed to obtain the required licence, and the property was rented anyway.
She’s since applied for the licence, but the damage is done – and it highlights a key issue that thousands of tenants face every year: unlicensed landlords collecting rent unlawfully.
Why this matters for tenants
Under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, if a landlord lets a property that should be licensed but isn’t, tenants may be entitled to recover up to 12 months’ rent through a Rent Repayment Order (RRO).
It doesn’t matter if the landlord says they didn’t know – the law is clear. Responsibility to license the property always sits with the landlord (or managing agent, in some cases). Ignorance isn’t a defence.
Many of these cases also overlap with failures in the deposit protection scheme UK. If your landlord didn’t protect your deposit correctly, you could have separate grounds for claiming tenancy deposit compensation worth up to three times the deposit amount.
Common signs your property may need a licence
- You live in a flat or house share with multiple tenants
- Your area has a selective licensing scheme (many local councils do – London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and others)
- Your landlord manages several rental properties
- Your rent payments go to a company rather than an individual
If you’re unsure, you can check your address on your local council’s website – most have a public licensing register.
What tenants can do
If you discover that your landlord didn’t have the correct licence while you were renting:
- Gather your tenancy agreement, rent proof, and communications.
- Check the council’s licensing register or contact them to confirm.
- Get legal advice immediately. You may be entitled to recover a large portion of your rent or your deposit through the deposit protection scheme UK rules.
At Cook Legal Solicitors, we specialise in tenancy deposit claims and rent repayment orders. We regularly act for tenants whose landlords have failed to comply with licensing, deposit protection scheme UK, or repair obligations.
We’ll review your tenancy, confirm whether you have a valid claim, and guide you through the process from start to finish – often with no win, no fee options available.
The bottom line
If even the Chancellor’s property wasn’t properly licensed, it shows how common these breaches are. But tenants don’t have to let it slide.
If you think your landlord has rented you an unlicensed property, failed to protect your deposit, or breached the deposit protection scheme UK, you could be owed thousands.
Get in touch with Cook Legal today – we’ll check your tenancy, your rights, and your potential claim for claiming tenancy deposit or rent repayment.
Visit www.cooklegalsolicitors.co.uk or message us directly to start your free claim check with Cook Legal.