Landlords Ordered To Pay Over £10k For Illegal Eviction
A private tenant was at his wits end when returning to his rental property and finding he was locked out, as the landlord had fitted new locks and removed his belongings.
The unfortunate tenant along with another person who rented rooms in the Bridlington property were both handed a notice to vacate the house with just one week’s notice.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council warned the landlord, Fiddlers Investment Ltd, that they would not be following the correct eviction procedures by giving the tenant’s just a week’s notice, and that they would undergo criminal proceedings if they did not comply.
The company decided to turn a blind eye to the warning and carried on regardless.
In light of the very short notice, one of the tenants refused ‘point blank’ to move out, so his belongings were taken out of the property and his locks changed.
A spokesman for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council said the Fiddlers’ board and regional manager still believe that their actions were not wrong when carrying out the eviction in September 2016.
For its illegal evictions the company was charged with two offences in the hearing at Beverley Magistrates Court which they pleaded guilty to.
The landlord/directors were ordered to pay £10,865.15 which made up of a £4,000 fine and £6,865 in costs.
Chris Dunnachie, private sector housing and safety manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council has a duty to protect tenants to make sure they are safe from illegal evictions.
“Some landlords fail to accept that, despite being their property, each and every room or flat within that property is a person’s home and they have no right of entry without the tenant’s agreement, and must follow clear legal procedures to ensure their tenants are given appropriate notice to leave.
“We will deal with any landlord, letting agent or property company who does not abide by the law. It was disappointing that in this case, Fiddlers Investments Ltd chose not to take officer’s advice.”
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