Harassment of tenants
Tenancy harassment
Harassment can include:
- stopping services, like electricity
- withholding keys, for example there are 2 tenants in a property, but the landlord will only give 1 key
- refusing to carry out repairs that are the landlord’s responsibilities
- antisocial behaviour by someone on the landlord’s behalf, for example a friend of the landlord moves in next door and causes problems
- threats and physical violence
- threatening to change the locks
- opening or taking post
- stopping access to temperature control
Illegal eviction and tenants’ rights
Your landlord must follow the correct procedure if they want to evict you.
Your landlord may be guilty of illegal eviction if you:
- are not given the notice to leave the property that your landlord must give you
- find the locks have been changed
- are evicted without a court order
Even if your landlord’s property is repossessed by their mortgage lender, the lender must give you notice so you can find other accommodation.
What you can do
Contact our Tenancy Relations Officer if:
- you think you’re being harassed or threatened with illegal eviction
- the property you rent is being repossessed
- you think you’ve been illegally evicted
We can take legal action against your landlord to prevent and investigate illegal evictions or harassment. You may have the right to be let back into your home, claim compensation, or apply for a rent repayment order.
Contact the police if physical violence or threats are involved or if someone is trying to remove you or your belongings from the property without either a:
- court order
- court appointed bailiff
The police can prevent you from being illegally evicted from your home.
You could also contact: