A Bristol landlord has been ordered to repay £24,592 to four former tenants after a tribunal found he had operated an unlicensed HMO and failed to adequately address a series of problems at the property.

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) made the Rent Repayment Order against Nadeem Ahmed following an application by former tenants of a property in Brislington Hill, Bristol.

The tribunal found the property was operating as an unlicensed HMO, with Bristol City Council confirming a licence application was not submitted until April 2025.

At the higher end of the spectrum”

The tribunal said the case was “at the higher end of the spectrum”, citing “serious failings with fire safety and the condition of the Property”.

It heard evidence of mould in the kitchen and three bedrooms, water ingress into the kitchen and two separate rat infestations during the tenants’ occupation. Although 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 deal with an electrical malfunction and had failed to address mould and water ingress issues which continued throughout the tenancy.

Safety certificates

In addition, there was no evidence that gas safety, electrical safety or energy performance certificates had been provided. The tenants also told the tribunal 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 tribunal awarded the tenants 80% of the rent paid during the relevant period, amounting to £24,592, together with £341 in tribunal fees.