The skilled and sympathetic housing team at
Hodge Jones & Allen has helped many tenants to protect
themselves from unlawful eviction.
Criminal sanctions
Sometimes landlords may fall foul of the criminal law. For example,
anyone who ‘without lawful authority’ uses, or threatens to use,
violence to gain entry to occupied premises is committing an
offence.
Civil proceedings
More likely, though, we will use the civil law to get an
‘injunction’ against your landlord. If their actions have caused
you loss or harm, you may even be entitled to compensation.
Landlords must allow their tenants ‘quiet
enjoyment’ of the premises, and permit utilities like gas and
electricity to be supplied. They are not allowed to evict you
before the end of your tenancy, enter the house without your
permission, unlawfully damage your property or threaten you.
Even if they haven’t done any of these things,
it’s generally illegal to evict someone from their home without a
court order.
If your landlord is trying to evict you, you
must act quickly. Our experienced housing lawyers can help,
protecting you from unlawful eviction and, if your landlord has
broken the law, assisting with a claim for compensation.