Harassment & Illegal Eviction
At a Glance
Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home.
Even if your landlord wants you to leave, they must follow the correct legal process. They cannot simply change the locks, remove your belongings, disconnect your utilities or pressure you into moving out.
Harassment and illegal eviction are serious matters. In many cases, they are criminal offences as well as civil wrongs, meaning your landlord could face prosecution and you may be entitled to compensation.
This guide explains what harassment and illegal eviction are, how to recognise them and what you should do if they happen to you.
What Is Landlord Harassment?
Landlord harassment is behaviour that interferes with your right to peacefully live in your home or is intended to pressure you into leaving.
Harassment isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t have to involve violence or shouting. Sometimes it’s a pattern of behaviour designed to make you feel uncomfortable, intimidated or unwelcome.
Examples include:
- Repeated unwanted visits.
- Entering your home without your permission (except in a genuine emergency).
- Threatening phone calls, emails or messages.
- Constant pressure to move out.
- Aggressive or intimidating behaviour.
- Threatening to change the locks.
- Refusing to leave after entering your home.
- Deliberately delaying essential repairs to encourage you to leave.
- Interfering with services such as electricity, gas or water.
If your landlord’s behaviour is making it difficult for you to peacefully enjoy your home, it may amount to harassment depending on the circumstances.
Your Right to Quiet Enjoyment
Every tenant has the legal right to quiet enjoyment of their home.
Despite the name, this doesn’t mean your property has to be completely quiet. It means you have the right to live in your home without unnecessary interference from your landlord.
This includes the right to:
- Live in the property without intimidation.
- Decide who enters your home.
- Enjoy privacy.
- Refuse access unless there is a genuine emergency or you’ve agreed to a visit.
- Remain in your home until your tenancy legally ends.
Your landlord owns the property, but while you’re renting it, it is your home.
What Is an Illegal Eviction?
An illegal eviction happens when a landlord tries to make a tenant leave without following the legal possession process.
A landlord cannot legally evict you simply because they:
- Want to sell the property.
- Want another tenant.
- Are unhappy you’ve complained.
- Are frustrated with the tenancy.
Instead, they must follow the correct legal process.
In most cases this means:
- Relying on a valid legal ground for possession.
- Serving any notice required by law.
- Applying to the court if you don’t leave voluntarily.
- Obtaining a possession order.
- If necessary, arranging for authorised enforcement officers to carry out the eviction.
Your landlord cannot carry out the eviction themselves.
Examples of Illegal Eviction
Examples include:
- Changing the locks while you’re away.
- Preventing you from entering your home.
- Removing your belongings.
- Physically forcing you out.
- Threatening violence unless you leave.
- Disconnecting electricity, gas or water.
- Removing doors or windows to make the property uninhabitable.
- Sending someone else to intimidate you into leaving.
These actions may amount to criminal offences and could also result in a civil claim for compensation.
The Legal Eviction Process
The Renters’ Rights Act changed the way landlords recover possession of their properties.
Landlords can no longer simply ask most tenants to leave without relying on a legal ground for possession.
If your landlord wants possession of the property, they must follow the legal process. If you don’t leave voluntarily, they will usually need to obtain a court order before you can be lawfully evicted.
Until that process has been completed, you generally have the right to remain in your home.
If you’re unsure whether a notice you’ve received is valid, don’t assume you have to move out immediately. Seek advice before making any decisions.
What If My Landlord Wants Me to Leave?
Sometimes landlords simply ask whether you’d be willing to move out.
There’s nothing wrong with discussing this if you’re happy to do so.
However:
- You don’t have to agree.
- You don’t have to leave immediately.
- You shouldn’t feel pressured into signing anything you don’t understand.
- You shouldn’t be threatened or intimidated into leaving.
If you agree to leave voluntarily, make sure any agreement is recorded in writing.
What Should You Do?
If you believe you’re being harassed or threatened:
1. Keep calm
Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into leaving unless you’ve taken advice or genuinely want to move.
2. Keep evidence
Save:
- Text messages.
- Emails.
- Letters.
- WhatsApp messages.
- Voicemails.
- CCTV footage.
- Photographs.
- Witness details.
Keep a diary recording:
- Dates.
- Times.
- What happened.
- Who was present.
3. Report criminal behaviour
If your landlord threatens violence, assaults you, unlawfully locks you out or you believe a crime has been committed, contact the police.
Call 999 if you’re in immediate danger.
For non-emergencies, call 101 or report the incident online.
4. Contact your local council
Most councils have officers who deal with harassment and illegal eviction.
They may:
- Investigate complaints.
- Contact your landlord.
- Gather evidence.
- Take enforcement action.
- Consider criminal prosecution where appropriate.
5. Seek legal advice
If your landlord has acted unlawfully, seek independent legal advice as soon as possible.
The sooner you obtain advice, the more options you may have available.
If You've Been Locked Out
Being locked out of your home can be frightening.
If you return home and discover you’ve been locked out without your agreement:
- Stay somewhere safe if necessary.
- Contact the police if appropriate.
- Contact your local council immediately.
- Seek urgent legal advice.
- Keep evidence, including photographs of changed locks if possible.
Don’t attempt to force entry yourself, as this could escalate the situation.
Can You Claim Compensation?
Possibly.
If you’ve suffered harassment or been illegally evicted, you may have the right to bring a civil claim.
Compensation will depend on the circumstances and may include:
- Financial losses.
- Damage to belongings.
- Distress and inconvenience.
- The loss of your home.
- Other losses directly caused by the landlord’s unlawful actions.
Every case is different, so legal advice is recommended.
If You're Worried It Might Happen
Sometimes tenants become worried because their landlord has started making comments like:
- “You’ll have to be out by next week.”
- “I’ll just change the locks.”
- “If you don’t leave, I’ll cut the power.”
Even if no action has been taken yet, you should:
- Keep copies of any messages.
- Write down conversations.
- Avoid agreeing to anything under pressure.
- Seek advice if you’re unsure about your rights.
Understanding the legal process before anything happens can help you respond calmly if your landlord acts improperly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord enter my home whenever they want?
No.
Except in a genuine emergency, your landlord should normally obtain your permission before entering your home.
My landlord keeps turning up without warning. Is that allowed?
Repeated unannounced visits may interfere with your right to quiet enjoyment and could amount to harassment depending on the circumstances.
Can my landlord remove my belongings?
Not simply because they want you to leave.
Removing a tenant’s possessions without following the legal process may form part of an illegal eviction.
My landlord changed the locks while I was at work. What should I do?
Contact the police if appropriate, notify your local council and seek urgent legal advice as soon as possible.
Can I call the police?
Yes.
If you believe a criminal offence has been committed or you’re in immediate danger, contact the police.
Call 999 in an emergency or 101 for non-emergency situations.
I received an eviction notice. Do I have to leave immediately?
Not necessarily.
Receiving a notice doesn’t usually mean you must leave on that date. If you’re unsure whether it’s valid or what happens next, seek advice before moving out.
Key Takeaways
- Your landlord cannot simply force you out of your home.
- Harassment can include intimidation, repeated unwanted visits, threats or interfering with essential services.
- Illegal eviction often involves changing locks, preventing access or removing belongings without following the legal process.
- You have the right to quiet enjoyment throughout your tenancy.
- Keep detailed records if problems arise.
- Contact the police if you're threatened or believe a criminal offence has been committed.
- Contact your local council and seek legal advice if you believe you've experienced harassment or an illegal eviction.
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