What is harassment?

Harassment can take many forms and can include:

• Making threats to persuade a tenant to leave
• Cutting off services such as gas, electricity or water
• Preventing access to shared kitchens and bathrooms
• Entering a tenant’s room without permission

These and other acts, which are likely to put pressure on a resident to leave their accommodation, could be harassment. This is a criminal offence and a breach of civil law.

Who could break the law?

The law says that the landlord or any other person (such as the agent, a relative of the landlord and in some cases another tenant in the building), could have action taken against them for acts of harassment.

Know your rights and responsibilities

Landlords – Your rights and responsibilities and also those of your tenants are usually set out in the tenancy agreement as well as being set out by the law. You should always seek legal advice if there is any doubt about what action should be taken.  Housing Services have information leaflets and can also give you general advice about landlord and tenant legislation.

Tenants - You should always take advice if you have been asked or told to leave your accommodation. Information leaflets and advice about tenants rights are available from the Housing Services or from other advice agencies and private solicitors. Students can also get advice from their university or college accommodation and welfare officers.

For further information, whether you are a tenant or a landlord, please contact the Housing Advice Team on 01225 396296.