[2025] UKUT 233 (LC)

The FTT found that the respondent had had made out the defence under section 72(5) because it had had a reasonable excuse for managing the HMO without a licence from 16 November and that the last date on which the offence had been committed was 15 November 2022. As no offence had been committed during the period of 12 months ending on 29 November 2023, the date of the application for the rent repayment order, the FTT decided that the application had been brought out of time and dismissed it on that basis. But in case they were wrong, they also considered the evidence fully and determined that they would have ordered repayment of £13,514 if the application had been made in time.