Tower Hamlets HMO Register — Check Licences & Claim Unlicensed Rent
Council data box
Section 232 of the Housing Act 2004 obliges Tower Hamlets Council to keep a public register of every HMO licence it grants. Checking it is the fastest way to find out whether your address is licensed — and an unlicensed property is not just a rules breach: it is a criminal offence that can make the landlord liable to repay up to two years' rent. Here is the local picture for Tower Hamlets, step by step.
The statutory register
We do not yet list a direct link for this council's register. Every council must publish one under section 232 Housing Act 2004: search the council's website for “HMO register”, or phone the private sector housing team and ask for the licensing section.
How to check your address
- Find the search box (most council registers are searchable by postcode).
- Run the search for your address and record the result, whatever it is.
- If a licence exists, verify: holder, property, expiry date, occupant cap.
- If nothing appears, double-check spelling variants of your street before concluding it is unlicensed.
- Screenshot with the date and URL visible — tribunals decide on proof, and registers can change between your check and the hearing.
Is my property an HMO in Tower Hamlets?
The standard test: if your home houses 5 or more people from 2 or more households who share facilities, it needs a licence under the national mandatory scheme. Tower Hamlets can additionally require licences for smaller HMOs or designate selective licensing areas. This page does not currently list Tower Hamlets's additional or selective licensing designations — check the council's licensing pages directly, because a designation can make even a 2-person flat licensable.
If it is unlicensed, the rent can be reclaimed
An unlicensed HMO is not a paperwork problem — it is a criminal offence (Housing Act 2004 s.72(1)), and a tenant, former tenant, or a local housing authority can apply for a rent repayment order. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026 the tribunal can order repayment of up to two years' rent; for earlier offences, up to twelve months. Applications are made within two years of the offence, and the standard of proof is the criminal one — beyond reasonable doubt. See how much you could claim and the application process.
Where a claim is filed
Your claim would be administered by the Residential property: London region (10 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7LR). RRO1 applications go to London.Rap@justice.gov.uk; telephone 0207 446 7730. We keep the verified contact details on the London region page.
Local rent levels shape claim value
The ONS private rental market statistics for Tower Hamlets put the median room (single room) rent: £845/month (lower quartile £750, upper quartile £1,000; ONS sample of 30 rents), and the median rent across all property categories: £1,900/month. Room-rent matters most for HMO claims: a successful two-year claim at the median room rent would be around £20,280 before deductions such as Universal Credit housing payments or bills you paid yourself. That is an illustration from published statistics, not a prediction — your actual rent paid sets the number. Source: ONS Private rental market summary statistics, October 2022 to September 2023.
Published tribunal decisions connected with Tower Hamlets
HMCTS publishes First-tier Tribunal decisions on GOV.UK. Recent published decisions connected with Tower Hamlets:
- 118 Broomfield Street, Poplar, Tower Hamlets, E14 6BQ: LON/00BG/HMF/2025/0732 — decided 7 May 2026
A decision about a different property never predicts your outcome — but reading a few shows how tribunals reason about evidence, deductions and conduct.
Evidence to start collecting now
- Tenancy agreement (all pages, including the landlord's name and signature)
- Rent payment proof: bank statements, standing transfer references, receipts
- The register result: dated screenshot showing your address is not licensed
- Universal Credit award letters (housing element), if you claim — needed for the deduction calculation
- Bills records, if you pay utilities separately
- Photos and messages about the property's condition or management
- Names of everyone in the household and when each moved in
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the Tower Hamlets HMO register? Search your postcode on the council's official register (linked above). Every council must keep it public under section 232 Housing Act 2004. If the link above does not yet point at Tower Hamlets's register, phone the housing team and ask for the HMO licensing section.
How much rent can I claim back in Tower Hamlets? Up to two years' rent for offences on or after 1 May 2026 (twelve months before that date), minus deductions such as Universal Credit housing payments. The cap follows your actual rent, not an area average.
Who is the claim against? The immediate landlord — the person you rent from. Since the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes, a superior landlord can also be named where the immediate landlord cannot or will not pay, or where both committed the offence.
Does reporting to the council start a claim? No. Reporting triggers enforcement, which is worth doing, but a rent repayment order is a separate tribunal application you make yourself.
Claim potential in Tower Hamlets
Based on the ONS median room rent of £845/month for Tower Hamlets:
| Scenario | Indicative maximum |
|---|---|
| Offence on or after 1 May 2026 (up to 2 years' rent) | £20,280 |
| Offence before 1 May 2026 (up to 12 months' rent) | £10,140 |
Illustrative only. Actual awards depend on the rent you actually paid, Universal Credit and utility deductions, and the tribunal's view of the landlord's conduct under s.44 HPA 2016. Check your own figures before applying.
Published tribunal decisions mentioning Tower Hamlets
| Case | Decided | Region | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 118 Broomfield Street, Poplar, Tower Hamlets, E14 6BQ: LON/00BG/HMF/2025/0732 | 7 May 2026 | GOV.UK |
Decisions are published by HMCTS on GOV.UK. A decision about another property does not predict the outcome of your claim.
Free help, no fee
Shelter's free housing advice line: 0808 800 4444 (England, weekdays) · Shelter Cymru: 08000 495 495 · Citizens Advice: 0808 223 1133. In immediate danger (for example an illegal lock-out happening now), call 999.
Ready to claim? The Casewright RRO Pack helps you calculate the rent to reclaim (including Universal Credit and utility deductions), complete Form RRO1, and compile a bookmarked, searchable First-tier Tribunal applicant bundle. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. Flat £149 — no percentage of your award.
Reviewed by Sean McNamara against legislation.gov.uk, GOV.UK tribunal guidance and council registers. Last verified: 2026-09-04.