What you can do about illegal eviction
Get help straight away if you've been evicted illegally. Contact the police if your landlord threatens violence.
Challenge illegal eviction
Check if it is illegal eviction
Get advice to find out if you've been evicted illegally.
Do not try to get back into your home if:
new tenants have already moved in
you're not sure if your eviction was illegal
there's a risk of injury or violence to yourself or others
You could be charged with criminal damage if you cause damage when re-entering your home.
Ask the council for help
Contact your council's tenancy relations officer or housing team.
They may:
negotiate with your landlord to let you back into your home
prosecute landlords for illegal eviction
Contact your council's homelessness team if you have been illegally evicted or your landlord is harassing you out of your home.
Apply for an injunction
You can apply to the court for an injunction to:
get you back into your home
stop your landlord harassing you
You can also apply to the court for compensation and damages.
If you need a lawyer, you may qualify for legal aid if you're on a low income.
If you can't get legal aid, you might be able to find a solicitor to help under a no win no fee agreement.
Call the police if you are threatened
Call the police if you are being illegally evicted.
Tell the police the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 makes it a criminal offence for your landlord to evict you without following the correct steps.
Show the police your tenancy agreement if they need proof you are a tenant.
The police should come to your home if they can prevent violence or a breach of the peace.
The police should not help the landlord to evict you.
Call 999 if a crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger.
Leaving after an eviction
Get your belongings back
Your landlord must return your belongings or allow you to collect them.
Your landlord cannot:
keep, sell or destroy your belongings
keep your belongings because they say you owe rent
just leave your belongings on the doorstep for you to collect
Contact your landlord to arrange the return or collection of your belongings.
You can claim compensation through the court if your belongings are lost or damaged.
Get your tenancy deposit back
Your tenancy deposit should have been protected with an authorised scheme if you're an assured shorthold tenant.
You can use the scheme's dispute resolution service to get your tenancy deposit back.
The service can also help if you disagree with the amount the landlord has kept.
You can take your landlord to court for the return of your deposit
your deposit wasn't protected with a scheme
your landlord refuses to use the dispute resolution service
If you claim compensation from your landlord for illegal eviction, you can claim for your deposit as part of the same court application.
Find a new home
Get help from the council if you are homeless.
Look for a private rented home
Last updated: 18 March 2019