Redress
Redress is the process by which a tenant seeks a remedy when something has gone wrong in a tenancy and how landlord is expected to resolve it. This can include an apology, an explanation, repairs or other action, and in some cases financial compensation.
Traditionally, tenants have obtained redress through internal complaints, the local authority, the First-tier Tribunal or the courts. Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, redress is being reshaped around a new, mandatory Private Rented Sector (PRS) Landlord Ombudsman / landlord redress scheme. All private landlords in England must join, even if they use a letting agent.
From a landlord’s perspective, this means:
You must have a clear complaints process and signpost tenants to the Ombudsman where issues remain unresolved.
Ombudsman decisions can require you to apologise, provide information, take remedial action and/or pay compensation, and will be binding.
Failing to join or comply can lead to civil penalties and rent repayment orders, enforced by local authorities and the Property Tribunal.
Good landlords treat redress as an opportunity to resolve problems early, avoid escalation, and demonstrate professionalism, rather than as a purely defensive process.
