Tessa's Ten Top Tips for tenants on dealing with harassment
- If you find out that your landlord (or his agent) has been entering your property without asking you first, you should ask him to stop, and follow this up by a letter. This should say that all future visits to the property by him or his agents (eg his workmen) must be agreed with you in advance. Keep a copy of this letter and make sure it is dated.
- If they ignore your letter, complain to the tenancy relations officer or housing officer at your local authority. They will write on your behalf, and if necessary bring a prosecution.
- Remember however that your landlord is entitled by law to enter the property to inspect it and carry out essential repairs. However this must be after proper notice has been given to you, and he cannot come whenever he likes, the time should be agreed with you.
- Remember also that if you do not allow your landlord access to do repairs and the annual gas safety check, you will not be able to claim against him if you suffer injury or loss due to his failure to carry out the relevant repairs.
- If you are frightened by your landlord (eg if you are a single woman living alone and he has behaved in a threatening manner) you should insist that all inspection and other similar visits are at a time of your choosing so you can have someone with you.
- If your landlord (or his agents) continue to enter the property without your consent after you have asked him to stop, consider changing the locks, particularly if you are a woman living alone and are frightened. Many tenancy agreements will prohibit this, however it will be difficult for your landlord to complain about it (eg in court proceedings) if the locks have been changed because of his conduct.
- 'Harassment' also includes such things as frequent visits to demand rent, verbal abuse, cutting off the services and failing to carry out essential repairs to 'persuade' you to leave, and indeed any sort of behaviour which interferes with your use of the property
- If you are thinking of making a complaint, start keeping a diary of events. Write things up as soon as possible after they have happened and try to quote the actual words used in conversations.
- If it is your landlords' agents who are harassing you, consider reporting them to their professional body (if they are a member of one) such as ARLA. You could also consider contacting the landlord direct to complain as he may be unaware of his agent's conduct.
- For serious cases you may be able to claim compensation through the courts. You should seek legal advice before doing this. If you are on benefit or a low income you will be eligible for legal aid and should consult a local legal aid firm. You can locate one in your area via the Legal Services Commission's web-site.
Notes:
Members can read FAQ and articles on all the points covered here.
Click here for our article with guidance for tenants on harassment.
