Form RL01 UK: Appeal Rogue Landlord Database Entry

What this document is

The Database of Rogue Landlords and Property Agents was introduced under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and expanded by later reforms. It is a register, maintained by local housing authorities in England, recording people and organisations who have been found guilty of serious housing offences or subject to a banning order.

The purpose is to give councils visibility of problem landlords and agents, including those who operate across multiple local authority boundaries, so that enforcement can be targeted more effectively. Before a landlord or agent is added, the council must issue a decision notice setting out the reasons for the proposed entry and the period it will remain on the database.

Form RL01 is the application used to appeal that decision notice to the First-tier Tribunal. An appeal can challenge whether the entry should be made at all, or the length of time the council has specified, or both. Strict time limits apply, which is why it is worth acting promptly once a decision notice lands on your doormat.

How to use this document

1. Read the decision notice carefully. Work through the council's decision notice line by line. Identify exactly what offence or financial penalties they are relying on, the period they propose to keep you on the database, and the deadline for appealing. The notice itself should set out your right to challenge the decision and the timeframe you have to do so.
2. Gather your evidence. Collect everything relevant to the underlying matter: tenancy agreements, correspondence with the tenant or council, inspection reports, gas and electrical certificates, licensing documents, and any records showing steps you took to comply. The tribunal will want to see a clear factual picture, so organised evidence tends to carry real weight on appeal.
3. Complete Form RL01. Fill in the form with the parties' details, the decision you are appealing, and the grounds on which you are challenging it. Be specific about whether you dispute the entry itself, the length of time specified, or both, and summarise the reasons clearly. Vague grounds are harder to run at a hearing.
4. Submit the form within the deadline. File Form RL01 with the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) within the time limit stated on the decision notice, which is typically 21 days from the date the notice was given. Late applications may be refused unless the tribunal grants an extension, so diarise the deadline as soon as you receive the notice.
5. Prepare for the hearing. Once your appeal is accepted, the tribunal will issue directions setting out what documents and statements each side must produce and by when. Follow these directions carefully, prepare a clear bundle, and consider whether to attend in person, by video, or to be represented. The hearing is your chance to put your case, so rehearse the key points you want to land.

Common questions