Illegal evictions and harassment
Please follow this link to make an online enquiry, complaint or report, relating to this service - Illegal evictions and harassment
The Environmental Health department will investigate any evictions, attempted evictions or harassment that may breach the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 or the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
The law protects tenants from harassment and illegal eviction in two ways. Firstly, by making both a criminal offence and secondly, by enabling an aggrieved tenant to claim damages through the civil court.
The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 as amended by the Housing Act 1988 makes it an offence to:
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do acts likely to interfere with the peace of comfort of a tenant or anyone living with him/her
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persistently withdraw or withhold services for which the tenant has a reasonable need to live in the premises as a home
It is also an offence to take away someone’s home away unlawfully.
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A landlord cannot normally enforce his right to get his property back from a tenant unless he does it through the courts.
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A landlord seeking possession must generally serve a written notice to quit giving at least 28 days notice.
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The period of the notice is two months but this can depend on the grounds on which the landlord is seeking possession.
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The tenant is not required to leave the property until this notice expires.
For more information please contact Environmental Health & Protection Services on 01380 724 911 or email us at kennet@kennet.gov.uk
For comprehensive advice on landlord harassment and illegal eviction and your rights as a tenant, you can download the leaflet protection against illegal eviction pdf formatOther useful links
SHELTER (External link) (Opens New Window)
Citizens Advice Bureau (External link) (online advice - opens new window)
Department for Communities and Local Government (advice for landlords and tenants renting privately) (Opens New Window)
Department for Communities and Local Government (advice on Social Housing lettings i.e. Housing Association or Council Housing) (Opens New Window)