We urge all Rent Repayment Order (RRO) Applicants to write to their Tribunal to request a paper determination or the alternative of a video hearing. Paper determinations are regularly made at the Northern Tribunal for RRO cases, for example these 5 cases: MAN/00CJ/HMF/2019/0063-68 . London and other Tribunals have been slower to develop this approach. Now is the time for them to give this serious consideration as the preferred option.
Tribunals have previously granted permission for participation by Skype and you should also request this in good time as an alternative.
Flat Justice wrote to First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber (Residential Property) (FtT) London last week with these suggestions. Here is a copy of our letter . There is little reason why the majority of RRO cases shouldn’t be heard without any need for attendance by Applicants, Respondents or Judges and associated staff.
The FtT London has written 19th March, but not to us, that they are closed from 25/3/2020 due to the virus and are only dealing with urgent cases. You can read their letter here: https://t.co/KC0fgJyuul?amp=1
See also our tweets on this @FlatJusticeCIC
We just (31/3/20) received an email from the FtT saying that they don’t consider 2 cases we have listed for 8th April as urgent and so will not offer a remote hearing. No answers to any of the other questions from our enquiry email regarding other cases. But at least somebody is looking at the emails which is encouraging to some extent.
This just in from London FtT:
https://www.GetRentBack.org/blog/FtT%20Covid-19%20arrangements.pdf
key takeaways:
>looking at how to process applications remotely
>hearings already listed *may* be re-listed for remote hearings but it will take “several weeks” to arrange and you should not expect to hear from FtT for another 6 weeks!
> Applications/Appeals already lodged: another 6 weeks until the FtT *starts* to review what to do about this mess
>Applications without directions yet: probably another …6 weeks…until any directions might be issued
>Case Management Conferences (CMC) postponed until a telephone CMC can be arranged
>Completed hearings: all Decisions are delayed. So not much change here at least.