Landmark Barristers appear in critical 'rent-to-rent' case in the Supreme Court

The case of Jepsen & Ors v Rakusen UKSC 2021/188 is receiving significant coverage in the national press, including BBC News. This is a critically important test case which will have significant effects on the private rented sector.  It turns on whether a rent repayment order under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 can be made against the superior landlord of an occupier of housing, or only the occupier’s immediate landlord.  Tom acted for the successful appellant landlord in the Court of Appeal.  The effect of the Court of Appeal’s decision was that landlords can rely on ‘rent-to-rent’ companies to shield themselves from rent repayment orders being made against them. For more information on this case, please click here. Tom Morris (instructed by Liam Hale at Winckworth Sherwood LLP) appeared for the respondent landlord, as he did in the Court of Appeal, Upper Tribunal and First-tier Tribunal. Justin Bates and Charles Bishop (instructed by Anthony Gold solicitors) made written submissions on behalf of Safer Renting, which intervened in both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.