Harassment

All tenants are entitled to live safely and peacefully in their homes and harassment by your landlord or a person instructed by your landlord is an offence. Harassment can be in several different forms some of which are listed below:

• Entering your home without prior notification.
• Changing the locks.
• Cutting off your utilities, such as gas, water and electricity.
• Tampering with your mail or possessions.
• Threatening you verbally or physically.

Keep a record of any instances where harassment has occurred, names of witnesses or anyone who may have become involved, doctors, police, etc.  Also get advice from your local council as soon as possible as they may be able to advise or help you further.

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    Illegal Eviction

Landlords must follow the correct legal procedure to evict a tenant. In most cases this involves serving a notice requiring possession.

Most rent paying tenants are protected from illegal eviction and harassment by their landlords in the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1988. However, if you have been illegally evicted you should seek legal advice. You have the right to apply for a court injunction to be allowed back into your home and your landlord can be liable for an unlimited fine and/or two years imprisonment.

The landlord can evict you if he can prove to a court that one of the mandatory grounds for possession is satisfied.