Guides › Rent and Deposits › Landlord Harassment: What Counts and What to Do
Landlord Harassment: What Counts and What to Do
It is a crime for your landlord to harass you or try to remove you without following the correct process. Harassment includes stopping services like electricity, threats and violence, threatening to change the locks, opening your post and refusing required repairs to make you leave. Councils can prosecute or fine a landlord up to £40,000. Call the police if there is violence or someone is removing you without a court order.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
What Counts as Harassment
Examples
Stopping services like electricity; withholding keys; refusing to carry out required repairs; anti-social behaviour by someone acting for the landlord; threats and physical violence; threatening to change the locks; opening or taking your post; cutting off access to temperature control. It can include anything the landlord would reasonably expect to make you feel unsafe or force you to leave. source
What You Can Do
Penalties
Illegal eviction is a criminal offence. Local councils can prosecute landlords or give a fine of up to £40,000 for harassment or illegal eviction. source
Your Options
You may be able to be let back into your home, claim compensation or apply for a rent repayment order. Contact the police if there is violence or threats, or if someone is removing you or your belongings without a court order or court bailiff. Contact your council if you are being harassed; it may have specialist staff. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- £40,000Maximum council fineFor harassment or illegal eviction
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Keep a diary of every incident with dates and times.
Step 2 of 5
Save texts and emails and take photos.
Step 3 of 5
Call 999 if you are threatened or locked out.
Step 4 of 5
Report it to your council's housing team.
Step 5 of 5
Get advice about compensation or a rent repayment order.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Police: 999
If there is violence or a lockout.
Your Local Council
Housing or environmental health team. It can act on landlord breaches.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Citizens Advice
Free advice on any renting problem.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Keep paying rent while you sort it out, so you do not give the landlord a legal ground.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different housing rules.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/private-renting-evictions/harassment-and-illegal-evictions Checked 15 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026