They may be guilty of harassment, which is a criminal offence if they:

• come round without warning, late at night, or when you're out
• cut off your gas, electricity or water supply
• interfere with your post
• threaten or intimidate you
• won't let you into parts of your home
• make you sign agreements that limit your rights.

If you're in this situation, there are practical steps you should take. Gathering evidence of what is happening will be very helpful if you decide to take action. Keep a diary of incidents and always report them.

If your landlord is being unreasonable, your local council can help. The tenancy relations officer or housing office will remind landlords of their legal responsibilities and will prosecute them in extreme cases.

You can also take the landlord to court yourself - you can apply for an injunction and/or damages for the expense or distress you have suffered. You will probably need help from a solicitor if you want to do this.