A group of London renters has won a six-figure sum from a billionaire landlord who left them living in unsafe conditions. After a three-year legal battle, the 46 former tenants of 15 flats in east London were awarded £263,000 by a tribunal – but some fear “rogue landlord” John Christodoulou could try to dodge the penalty. This may be the largest rent repayment order in UK history, but it isn’t the first for residents of Somerford Grove in Hackney. The group has been winning in court against Christodoulou since lockdown, yet three former tenants awarded £24,000 in 2022 say they still haven’t been paid. During the court case, Christodoulou – a Monaco-based property magnate who is 70th on The Sunday Times Rich List – shut down the two companies he used to collect rent. "This appears to be a deliberate attempt to evade financial responsibility through corporate restructuring," said Marc Sutton, a member of Somerford Grove Renters. Jordan Osserman, a 36-year-old lecturer and spokesperson for the campaign, added: "This case shows how the law is rigged against renters. Christodoulou makes millions off our rent while flouting the law and cutting corners on safety. But even when we win in court, landlords like Christodoulou can game the system to avoid paying up. The only way we can fight back is by organising and taking collective action." The group has been supported by the London Renters Union, which described the ruling as a “huge victory” but added that “the fight continues” until Christodoulou pays up.