A Bristol landlord has been ordered to repay £24,592 to four former tenants after a tribunal found he operated an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and failed to address multiple property issues.
The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) made the Rent Repayment Order against Nadeem Ahmed following an application by former tenants of a property on Brislington Hill, Bristol.
The tribunal found the property was operating without the required HMO licence, with Bristol City Council confirming a licence application was not submitted until April 2025.
Fire safety and maintenance failures
The tribunal described the case as being “at the higher end of the spectrum”, citing “serious failings with fire safety and the condition of the Property”.
Evidence presented to the tribunal included mould in the kitchen and three bedrooms, water ingress into the kitchen, and two separate rat infestations during the tenants’ occupation. Whilst an exterminator was sent to deal with the vermin, no repairs were carried out to prevent the rats from returning.
The tribunal also found Ahmed had been slow to address an electrical malfunction and had failed to resolve mould and water ingress issues which persisted throughout the tenancy.
Missing safety documentation
No evidence was provided that gas safety, electrical safety or energy performance certificates had been supplied to the tenants. The tribunal also heard that deposits had not been properly returned.
Judge Simon Allison found Ahmed had been involved in managing the property but that his conduct had “fallen short of a reasonable standard”.
The case highlights the ongoing enforcement of HMO licensing requirements, which comes as landlords adjust to evolving regulatory standards across England. The tribunal awarded the tenants 80% of the rent paid during the relevant period, amounting to £24,592, together with £341 in tribunal fees.
The decision adds to growing concerns about compliance costs in the private rental sector, with regulatory and tax changes affecting landlords across the UK.
