Very Wise Student, launched by claims management company Veriwise, is encouraging students to check the licensing status of their homes.
This is following a student accommodation management company being ordered to repay £84,877 of rent after it was found out they didn’t have a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) license.
Following a case brought by 44 tenants, SC Osney Lane Management Ltd was ordered to refund 35% of rent paid by students during the time the property was unlicensed.
Ajay Jagota, founder of Very Wise Student, comments: “For most students the legal status of their accommodation is the last thing on their mind, but not only are things like gas and safety certificates literally a matter of life and death, they could be in line for compensation or rent refunds if their landlords haven’t fulfilled their legal obligations.
“The problem is that most students don’t have the legal knowhow to uphold their rights, or the resources to lawyer up. That’s why we created our free service to make sure they get the help and support they need.
“Even through this company was found to have not deliberately failed to get a license – it’s highly unlikely they’re the only landlord to be operating without the necessary paperwork and I advise all students to take advantage of free specialist services like ours to make sure that their legal rights are being protected.”