Illegal eviction and harassment by a landlord in England

Name: Next Step Rooms
Address: GB

Quick answer: Most tenants can only be evicted by a court order carried out by bailiffs. If you are locked out, act quickly and contact your council's tenancy relations or homelessness team.

If your landlord is trying to make you leave without following the law, there are things you can do. Acting quickly matters.

Key points

Landlords cannot just turn up and tell you to leave. Most tenants can only be lawfully evicted by a court order, carried out by a bailiff or enforcement officer.
It is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 to deliberately and unlawfully deprive someone of their home, or to take steps meant to make them give it up. Councils prosecute these offences. Harassment is also covered by other laws.
If you do not have a written agreement, or your fixed term has ended, you are still a tenant.
Lodgers do not need a court order if the landlord lived in the property and shared living space with them throughout the agreement. Even so, harassment can still be an offence, so get advice.

If your landlord tries to make you leave

Get support: a friend, family member, a renters' union or your council.
Stay calm, tell the landlord that unlawful eviction is a criminal offence, and keep a record. Film or write notes if you can.
Put your safety first. If it feels unsafe, leave and come back later.
Call the police if you need to. The police can warn a landlord, gather evidence and in some cases make an arrest. Police sometimes wrongly treat it as a civil matter, so note the officers' ID numbers.

If you are locked out

Act quickly. Your home may be re-let.
Contact your council's tenancy relations team. They can explain the law to your landlord and may prosecute a landlord who keeps breaking it. The council must try to stop an illegal eviction if it would leave you homeless.
If you have nowhere to stay, contact the council's homelessness team. Most have an out-of-hours service. See find help near you.
Think before forcing your way back in. You may use reasonable force in some situations, but speak to the tenancy relations team first, because police may wrongly treat it as criminal damage and you may have to pay for any damage.
Ask about a court order. You can apply for an injunction to get back in or to stop harassment, and claim compensation. Legal aid may be available.
Get your belongings back. A landlord cannot sell or destroy them, or keep them because they say you owe rent.

Limits of this guide

This is general information for England. Whether you are a tenant or a lodger changes your rights, so get advice from Shelter (0808 800 4444) or Citizens Advice as soon as you can.

Questions people ask

Can a landlord change the locks while I am out?

In most cases no. Most tenants can only be evicted through a court order carried out by a bailiff. If you are locked out, contact your council's tenancy relations or homelessness team straight away.

What if I am a lodger?

A lodger does not need a court order if the landlord lived in the property and shared living space throughout the agreement. Harassment can still be an offence, so get advice.

Sources and official help

This guide is general information, not legal or benefits advice. Rules and amounts change, so check the official links above or speak to Citizens Advice or your council before you make a decision.