Islington Council housing services offers free advice to private tenants living in the borough who have problems with their tenancies. For general housing queries you can phone for advice or you can come in and see an advisor at our housing aid centre.
For these kind of problems there is a specialist service provided by tenancy relations officers (TROs) who deal particularly with harassment and illegal eviction by landlords.
An illegal eviction is where the landlord or somebody else excludes a residential occupier without a court order. This is often done by changing the locks, but sometimes violent or threatening behaviour is used.
Miss K was in dispute with her landlord about how much rent she owed. She returned home one evening to find the locks had been changed and left her belongings in bin liners in the front garden. She contacted the TRO service the next day. After checking her tenancy agreement, the officer arranged to go with her to the property straight away. He warned the landlord that he was committing an offence. As a result Miss K was re-admitted immediately. The landlord was later cautioned for carrying out an illegal eviction.
This is where the landlord or somebody else deliberately interferes with your ability to live in your home in peace. Acts of harassment include:
If your landlord (or anyone else) is trying to force you out of your home without a court order, they are probably acting illegally. It is a criminal offence to harass or unlawfully evict someone from their home.
If you think that you are being forced out illegally you can ask to speak to the council's Tenancy Relations Officer. The council has powers to prosecute offenders under the Protection from Eviction Act. In very serious cases, landlords have been sent to jail. Although not everyone who pays rent is protected under this law, most are and the TRO can advise you about this.
The main role of the TROs is to enforce the laws which exist to protect residents' rights. The TROs provide expert, impartial and confidential advice and, of course, the service is free. They can advise you about all your legal remedies. They can even help you find a specialist solicitor if you need one.
Even if you have rent arrears or your tenancy agreement has expired, the law will still protect you from illegal eviction and harassment.
The Tenancy Relations Officers can be contacted on:
E-mail:
tro.service@islington.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7527 6386
Fax: 020
7527 6307
For advice about housing problems call Contact Islington on 020 7527 2000.
If violence is used or threatened, call the police on 999.
Page Last Updated: 31 October 2008