Cost is one of the first things tenants ask about before pursuing a Rent Repayment Order — understandably, given many tenants are already dealing with the financial strain of a difficult tenancy. Here's a straightforward breakdown of what's actually involved.
Tribunal Fees
Applying to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) involves a modest application fee, with a further fee if the case proceeds to a hearing. These fees are set by the Tribunal itself and are considerably lower than court litigation fees. In many cases, the Tribunal has discretion to order the landlord to reimburse these fees if your claim succeeds.
Legal Costs
Because the Tribunal is designed to be more accessible than court, each side generally bears its own legal costs — the Tribunal only orders one party to pay the other's costs in limited circumstances, such as unreasonable conduct during the proceedings. This is very different from court litigation, where losing a case can mean paying the other side's costs.
We work on a no-win, no-fee basis on most cases, meaning there's no upfront legal bill for pursuing your claim. We'll always confirm the exact arrangement clearly before you proceed.
What You Don't Need to Pay For
- Your free initial assessment, where we check licensing registers and your eligibility, costs nothing and carries no obligation to proceed.
- You don't need to fund an expert report in most straightforward licensing-offence cases — licensing status is usually a matter of public record.
Weighing Cost Against What You Could Recover
Given that a successful RRO can recover up to 12 months of rent, the potential award is typically many multiples of any fees involved — see our guide on how RRO amounts are calculated for real examples of what tenants in different situations could recover.