Advice and protection for private tenants

The law protects people living in residential property against harassment and illegal eviction. It does this by making harassment and illegal eviction a criminal offence, under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, and by enabling someone who is harassed or illegally evicted to claim damages through the civil court.

The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 makes it an offence to:

• do acts likely to interfere with the peace or comfort of a tenant or anyone living with him/her; or
• persistently withdraw or withhold services for which the tenant has a reasonable need to live in the premises as a home.

The Council has the power to prosecute persons who commit offences under the Act. Our Environmental Health Officers investigate complaints and mediate between the parties wherever possible. We will consider bringing a prosecution if there is sufficient evidence of an offence being committed and where it is in the public interest to prosecute.

Page owner: Paula Mackenzie. Last updated: 14/12/2010 14:41