A Midlands council has prosecuted a landlord for illegally evicting his tenants.
Wajid Hussain, a landlord of a property in Coventry, changed the locks to the property on September 2 2023, whilst his tenants were on holiday without obtaining a possession order.
An investigation by Coventry council discovered evidence that Hussain had been in receipt of rent from the tenant less than a week before he changed the locks unlawfully.
Although Hussain stated he believed the tenants no longer lived at the property he admitted in interview that he had received the money from the tenants and that the tenants still had belongings in the property.
At a recent hearing at Coventry Magistrates Court the offence of illegal eviction, as per the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, was proven before a district judge. Hussain was ordered to pay £3,991.66, including the council’s costs.
A council spokesperson says: “This case emphasises the critical importance for landlords to adhere rigorously to proper procedures when managing tenant relations.
“The recently introduced Renters Rights Act further strengthens tenant protections, making compliance even more imperative and I hope this serves as a clear reminder to the minority of landlords that the Council is steadfast in its commitment to supporting tenants and where appropriate is prepared to take decisive action to protect residents from unlawful eviction and harassment, providing tenants with the security they rightly deserve.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today