A landlord has been ordered to pay more than £35,000 after illegally evicting a tenant and changing the locks while she was on holiday with her three children.
The tenant, who had occupied the property for over a decade, travelled abroad with her children aged 12, 8 and 5 after agreeing the landlord would carry out kitchen repairs during her absence. Upon returning, the family discovered they could not access the property as the locks had been changed and their possessions removed.
Legal proceedings
According to Harrowonline, the landlord placed the family’s belongings in storage. While some items were later recovered, others including family photographs were permanently lost. The mother was required to purchase new school uniforms and lunch boxes for the start of term.
Harrow Council placed the family in temporary accommodation at a considerable distance from their previous home, disrupting the children’s schooling and family routines.
Harrow Law Centre issued a civil claim for illegal eviction on behalf of the tenant. The landlord claimed the tenancy had been surrendered, but the court at Harrow Crown Court found no supporting evidence. After rejecting a last-minute adjournment request, the judge ruled in favour of the tenant.
Legal aid availability
Radhika Shah, Housing Solicitor at Harrow Law Centre, said: “Tenants can face a real uphill struggle in asserting their rights against private landlords. An illegal eviction is a criminal offence but Police often decline to intervene—viewing it as a civil matter—and local authorities frequently lack the resources to act and enforce their powers.”
Shah noted that legal aid remains available for civil claims against landlords who breach tenancy laws, and tenants do not need to pursue such cases without legal support.
The case highlights the financial and legal risks landlords face when bypassing proper eviction procedures, which require court orders even when tenancy disputes arise.
