Harassment & illegal eviction
Summary
Problems with your landlord?
If you rent your home and your landlord tries to force you out or evicts you without following the proper procedures, they could be guilty of a criminal offence. If you are being forced out of your home, we can help by:
- Giving you advice about your legal rights;
- Contacting the landlord and persuading or warning him/her to stop behaving unlawfully;
- Consider prosecuting the landlord if he/she continues to behave unlawfully.
You should always tell the police if you have been harassed or unlawfully evicted. This is particularly important if you have been threatened or assaulted, or if your property has been damaged or stolen. In an emergency always call 999, otherwise get the right contact numbers from the Norfolk Constabulary website.
For advice with harassment & illegal eviction...
- Contact the Housing and Advice Team online, or by email, telephone or letter (our details are at the foot of this page);
- Or you can visit our Long Stratton office, Monday to Friday (not bank holidays) between:
- 8:45am and 5:00pm Monday to Wednesday;
- 9:30 am to 5:00pm Thursday, and;
- 8:45am to 4:15pm Friday. - If you are homeless in an emergency outside these times you can telephone 01508 531277.
Further information
Harassment
Harassment is where a landlord, or someone else, deliberately makes life difficult for you, to try to make you leave, or stop you from using your legal rights. Some examples are;
- Cutting off your water, gas or electricity;
- Using threatening behaviour to make you leave;
- Trying to make you sign an agreement that takes away your legal rights;
- Interfering with your possessions;
- Moving into part of your home.
Illegal eviction
This is when someone forces you to leave your home illegally. This could be done by:
- Physically throwing you out of your home;
- Changing the locks;
- Stopping you from getting into part of your home.
Lawful eviction
A landlord can evict an occupier lawfully depending on what sort of tenancy you have and what your rights are to stay in your home.
Normally, if you pay rent for a house, flat or bedsit and you do not share your accommodation with a resident landlord, the landlord will have to give you written notice. After the notice has expired the landlord has to apply for and gain a possession order through the Courts before you can be evicted. If you live in a hostel or bed and breakfast hotel then you will usually have fewer rights.
Housing Rights in the Private Sector
For detailed advice on your housing rights contact our Housing and Advice team.
Related pages on this website
External links
Norfolk Constabulary
Find contact numbers for Norfolk Constabulary, for reporting a landlord who has evicted or is harassing you unlawfully.
Diss Citizens Advice Bureau & Wymondham, Attleborough & District Citizens Bureau
Locations and contact details for the two Citizens Advice Bureaus in South Norfolk, providing impartial advice and help on housing issues.
Community Services Direct
Free service to help you solve your legal problems.
Contact us
| contact officer/team: | Housing Advice Team |
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| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | housingadvice@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| freephone: | 0808 168 2222 |
| telephone: | 01508 533751/3750/3752/3744 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk Council South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
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If you need information in large print, audio cassette, braille, translation (written or verbal) or signed interpretation, let us know when you contact us.
