Tenancy disputes
Legal and illegal eviction
If you rent from a private landlord or some registered social providers, you may have an assured shorthold tenancy (AST).
If you have an AST your landlord has to follow a legal process to evict you. You can find more information on your tenancy agreement on GOV.UK.
https://www.gov.uk/housing-local-and-community/rented-housing-sector
Harassment
Any action by your landlord which stops you living quietly and safely in your own home may count as harassment. This includes interfering with your possessions or utilities, threatening you, visiting too often or without adequate notice.
Broadland resdents please contact us on 01603 431133, South Norfolk residents please contact us on 01508 533633 if you feel you are being harassed.
Illegal eviction
Landlords must follow the correct procedures to evict tenants
Actions that may count as illegal eviction include where a landlord:
- forces you to leave by threatening or harassing you
- physically throws you out
- stops you from getting into parts of your home
- changes the locks while you're out
It is a criminal offence for a landlord to evict you without following the correct legal steps. Landlords usually need to get a court order and ask bailiffs to evict you if you are a tenant.
When landlords can evict you themselves
Your landlord can evict you themselves and don't need to get a court order if you are:
- a lodger
- in a council or housing association hostel
- in emergency accommodation that the council provided while assessing your homeless application
Your landlord must give you reasonable notice to leave, your contract or licence agreement may say how long this should be.