Clampdown on illegal eviction of residential tenants

Liam O’Shea, Director and Solicitor in Astle Paterson’s Dispute Resolution & Litigation department discusses the recent crackdown by Local Authority on Landlords who seek to illegally evict their Tenants.

Liam said, “The Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 Councils across England and Wales, have recently highlighted the need for private Landlords to follow the correct legal channels when seeking to regain possession of the property.

In one month, four local Councils have secured successful criminal prosecutions of Landlords who have illegally evicted their Tenants, with Birmingham City Council securing two prosecutions.

The Landlords were Ordered by the Court to pay compensation to their Tenants, ranging from between £2,000 to £5,000, and two of the Landlords narrowly escaped jail – one receiving a 12 month Community Order and the other receiving a suspended jail sentence.”

Liam continued, “These recent prosecutions show that Courts will take a dim view to Landlords who illegally exclude their tenants from their homes, and it is therefore essential that a Landlord who wishes to obtain possession of their property follows the correct legal procedure – failure to do so can have severe consequences.”

Liam O’Shea of Astle Paterson, specialises in the law of Landlord & Tenant and carries out work on behalf of Landlords throughout Burton upon Trent and the surrounding areas – please contact him on 01283 531366 or by email at loshea@astlepaterson.co.uk.