Landlord Harassment Solicitors in London

Are you a tenant whose landlord or agent is threatening to change the locks or entering your home without permission and without the required notice? Your landlord may be behaving in a way that amounts to harassment and you may have a valid claim.

At OTS Solicitors, our landlord harassment solicitors in London have the specialist expertise and experience to support you with advice and representation tailored to your individual circumstances.

It is important to remember that, as a tenant, you have the implied right to ‘quiet enjoyment’ of the property and if your landlord is found to be in breach, this may constitute a form of harassment. Harassment in tenancies can take a number of forms ranging from persistent requests for rent, to pressuring you to leave when you are within your rights to remain in occupation.

No matter where you or your property are located in the UK, we can advise you on landlord and tenant law and your rights, offering support over the phone and via videoconferencing software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

For a detailed discussion regarding landlord harassment or to book an appointment with a member of our team, please call us now on 0203 959 9123.

OTS Solicitors offers a dedicated harassment litigation department, advising tenants on their rights and forms of redress if you suspect that your landlord is conducting themselves in one of the following ways:

• Accessing the property and entering without permission
• Pressuring you to move out mid-tenancy
• Illegal eviction
• Cutting off or withholding utilities such as electric and water
• Intimidating threats and behaviour
• Changing the locks or withholding keys
• Persistently demanding rent or other payments
• Discriminating under the Equality Act 2010

Speak to our landlord harassment solicitors today

We can discuss how to deal with landlord harassment at our offices, over the phone or online via web conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx or Skype.

To speak to our landlord dispute solicitors in London, please call now on 0203 959 9123 or use our simple online enquiries form.

How we can help with harassment by a landlord

Our specialised department can represent you in all stages of a harassment claim. We understand the sensitivity of these matters and aim to avoid complex and lengthy litigation processes and approach each case with a view to acting in the best interests of our clients. We will assist you with understanding your rights under your tenancy, including knowing what your landlord or letting agent can and cannot do in addition to resisting unlawful harassment forcing you to give up your tenancy.

If you feel directly threatened or intimidated by your landlord or their representative’s behaviour, you should contact the police as soon as possible. The police will attend if you are involved in a violent or threatening situation where there is an immediate risk.

Fees for our landlord harassment services

To ensure our clients have a clear understanding of the hourly rates and fixed fees we quote per case, we have set out below the costs of our services with a range of fees to accommodate work that spans both straightforward and complex harassment cases.

Our consultation rates are £140 (+ VAT if applicable) for a 40-minute consultation and £210 (+ VAT if applicable) for a 60-minute consultation.

This meeting will take place in confidence between yourself and one of our qualified lawyers to establish the full details of your specific circumstances; taking down your full instruction; we will consider all the applicable legislation, policy and any case law that will need to be taken into account in your case; we will finally have a detailed discussion to advise on your options and merits of success in your case.

This will involve the perusal of evidence such as communications between parties, agency contracts and detailed chronologies including photographic or video evidence of any harassment with a view to advising you on the best course of action.

A costs-benefit analysis and a full explanation of our duties towards you will be provided, with plenty of time for you to ask any further questions for clarification before the end of the consultation.

Following the initial consultation, the following fees may apply:

Drafting documentation to the landlord and/or representatives

On average, costs are between £150 - £200 per hour depending on the fee-earners hourly rate and complexity of the case. All figures exclude VAT unless specifically stated.

The work will involve (but is not limited to):

• Discussing your circumstances in detail and confirming what, if any harassment laws the landlord has breached and advising on the best course of action in order to mitigate the situation.
• Providing you with detailed advice about the law applicable to harassment under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 including any criminal implications.
• Considering the supporting evidence you have provided, including personal statements, witnesses, video or photographic evidence and correspondence.
• Where necessary, assisting with police and local authority liaison.
• Preparing cease and desist documentation and submitting it on your behalf to the concerned parties, reviewing and advising on responses and, if appropriate, helping you negotiate an early surrender so that you can exit the tenancy.
• We will provide you with detailed advice and assessment about the outcome of each process and any further steps you need to take including any consequences for either party.

These charges are reviewed annually and we will let you know if the rates increase.

All stated fees may be subject to VAT (Value Added Tax) where applicable and is usually charged at a rate of 20%. However, this may not apply for applicants applying from abroad depending on their individual visa/residency status. We will confirm whether VAT is payable when you instruct us and we can work out if VAT is properly chargeable.

Disbursements (not included in costs set out above):

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. Some examples of disbursements are (but not limited to) the following:

• Any court fees for making a claim for harassment under the act. You will pay this to the court directly as part of the disrepair claim process. The current court fee for this process is £355.
• Where the court has refused or dismissed the claim, advice and assistance in relation to any further work on the matter.
• Barrister fees which vary depending on complexity of matter, the seniority of barrister and time spent on matter. On average this may cost between £650 - £3000 excluding VAT however these fees may be significantly higher depending on the level of complexity of the case.

Clients intending to instruct on a claim should note the following:

If you need legal advice about harassment in relation to a residential property, then the landlord and tenant team at OTS Solicitors can help you.

Call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or complete our online enquiry form for an appointment by video conference or telephone.

How to deal with landlord harassment explained

What is classed as landlord harassment?

There is no definitive list of what counts as landlord harassment, but in general, it refers to anything a landlord might do to interfere with your ‘quiet enjoyment’ of the property or part of a property that you are renting.

A landlord may be committing a criminal offence if they or their agent act in a way that could reasonably cause you to give up your tenancy rights or leave before you are legally required to do so.

Landlord harassment can refer to actions directly carried out by a landlord or by someone acting on their behalf, such as an agent.

Examples of landlord harassment can include behaviours such as:

• Entering the property without permission or proper notice
• Aggressively demanding rent or other payments
• Interfering with your access to utilities e.g. water and power
• Acting in an intimidating or threatening manner towards you
• Anything which might be classed as discrimination under the Equality Act 2010
• Putting pressure on you to end your tenancy early
• Changing the locks or other actions to limit or prevent you from accessing the property during your tenancy
• Illegally evicting you or attempting to do so

Whether something will be classed as landlord harassment is not always obvious to those without specialist training, so if you are concerned about an issue, then please speak to a member of our team as soon as possible. We will be happy to advise you on your options, including any potential entitlement to compensation for landlord harassment.

Can my landlord harass me over late rent payments?

Landlord harassment for rent arrears is, sadly, a very common issue. Legally, a landlord cannot harass a tenant over missed rent nor can they threaten to illegally evict the tenant for missed rent.

The landlord is allowed to contact you about rent arrears, but they must only do so in an appropriate manner. They can also take action through the courts to recover the outstanding rent and seek to have you evicted, but they must follow the proper legal process to do so.

If you feel your landlord is not following a proper process over rent arrears and that they are harassing you, then our landlord harassment solicitors can advise you on your options.

How do I complain about landlord harassment?

Knowing what to do when faced with landlord harassment can be very difficult. Our team are always happy to advise on whether what you are experiencing might be classed as landlord harassment and what you can do.

If you are wondering how to complain about a private landlord in the UK, then one option is to report your landlord to your local council. Every local authority should have a dedicated team for dealing with landlord harassment. You should be able to find details of the relevant team for your area on your local council’s website.

Your council can then take actions such as negotiating with your landlord, explaining your rights as a tenant to your landlord, informing your landlord if their behaviour is breaking the law, working to get you back into your home if your landlord has illegally evicted you and, where required, prosecuting your landlord.

Before contacting your council, you should make sure you have as much information as possible about what has occurred. They will need to know details such as what your landlord has been doing, the dates and times of any actions your landlord has taken and your landlord’s contact details.

Can I report landlord harassment to the police?

Yes, as stated above, a landlord may be committing a criminal offence if they behave in a way that could cause you to give up your tenancy rights or end your tenancy early. If you are being harassed or threatened, then this is something you can report to the police. You can also call the police if your landlord attempts to illegally evict you.

If you are unsure whether your landlord may be committing a criminal offence, you can speak to our team, but a police call operator will also be able to advise you in an emergency situation.

How much can I sue my landlord for harassment?

How much compensation for landlord harassment you may be able to get will depend on the circumstances. Our team can advise you on this when you get in touch. We can support you by writing a landlord harassment letter, setting out your concerns and what you are seeking, then support you through the entire process of pursuing compensation.

Why choose OTS Solicitors for help with harassment by a landlord?

OTS Solicitors offers a forward-thinking approach with a firm commitment to excellent client service. Our strong expertise in landlord and tenant law is complemented by industry-leading skills in areas such as immigration law and family law that are often relevant to our clients dealing with harassment by a landlord.

When you work with our team, you can expect:

• An initial conversation by phone so we can get to know you and the issue you are facing
• Clear advice about your rights, the steps we can take and what sort of outcome you can realistically expect to achieve
• An upfront discussion of our fees, so you know what you might expect to pay for our help
• Good communication, with regular updates about progress and a dedicated point of contact, so you can always get in touch with someone who knows you and your case
• Respectful treatment at all times by our friendly, conscientious team

Speak to our landlord harassment solicitors today

We can discuss how to deal with landlord harassment at our offices, over the phone or online via web conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx or Skype.

To speak to our landlord dispute solicitors in London, please call now on 0203 959 9123 or use our simple online enquiries form.