Evicted, locks changed, no notice...

Milliewilly

Castleman wrote: »

It's not but they seem very keen to tell the world what it is. And they offered to PM copies of their salary and contract. Very odd. And naive. :eek:

Its not much of a forum if you cannot reply to comments made to you / about you on the thread even if they are not directly relevant.

I certainly wouldn't disclose personal salary / contract information to strangers over the internet or ask that someone divulge that to me.

As I said previously let other readers decide how to interpret what has been written - there have been over 7000 views on this thread so far and I am comfortable with all the comments I have made as the story has unfolded.

MissMoneypenny

Deleted_User wrote: »

Unless I've been living under a rock for quite some time, I really don't believe it's the practice of the police to ask those making accusations what sort of sentence they want to see received before they've even investigated. It's not even the job of the police to request it!

I was asked by the police what I wanted, when I reported a crime. They then investigated and prosecuted.

dopester

GDB2222 wrote: »

Or the LL simply didn't have a clue about what she was doing?

maninthestreet wrote: »

I agree - from what the OP states, the LL seems to be ignorant of some of the laws relating to rental properties.

Hey... I think this soft-touch outlook for ignorance should be extended to all levels of business, and all aspects of life. Forget about having a duty to know and being presumed to know, when you're only playing something so minor as the role of landlord to a scum tenant - who is renting his home from you. Illegal eviction.. yeah, all landlords should reserve that power over tenants and just forget about the possible consequences of the law.

Nemo censetur ignorare legem. [Nobody is taught to ignore the law.]

GDB2222

I'm not suggesting that ignorance of the law should be taken into account. I simply pointed out that it's more likely the LL had no idea it was illegal, rather than Lynz's point (which I quoted): She probalby thinks "oh never mind, Ill be let off with a fine, I can afford it, no worries". I always look for the c0ck-up explanation rather than the conspiracy explanation.

F_T_Buyer

Quick a shocking story really. Personally I would have booted the door down in the first instance, then taken the legal route - of course getting a locksmith in. It sounds like the landlord thinks the OP did something very wrong, which I doubt, but either way I would take this all the way as he is doing.

dopester

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You may think a prison term is warranted in his case which is your prerogative, but the OP does not appear to so I have no idea why you are arguing the toss with me? :huh: I would not want to put any family through that unless I felt that society could not be safe without the perpetrator behind bars.

Actually I don't know if a prison term is appropriate. On a balance of things, I'd rather prison places be reserved for those who've committed more serious crimes. 14 days in prison seems fairly appropriate for an illegal eviction though in my opinion, in the circumstances set out by the OP. Alternatively a significant financial penalty awarded (paid within say 30 days) to the OP to compensate him for the illegal eviction.

A suitable enforced deterrent which sends a signal to other landlords that they can't get away with carrying out illegal evictions is all that is in my mind. Claims a landlord can illegally evict because 'she had no idea it was illegal' and be let off with a pamphlet about the basics of how to be a landlord don't satisfy me.

Up to now on this thread the OP doesn't seem to have strong feelings either way about a custodial sentence. When the police officer asked him if he wanted to have her arrested, fined and put in prison - he said yes. Later he posted he'd settle for her having a night in the cells.

More importantly on what either of us think, if the OP keeps us updated, we might find out how what the police and court decide about it. (OP.. I hope you got yourself a Crime Reference Number.)

Touche wrote: »

I went back to the police station and waited for an officer. Eventually one became available. I explained what'd happened. She looked baffled initially. When I mentioned that illegal eviction was a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 she looked out of her depth, but she did really well in the end. She admitted she had no idea, left the room and came back with the legislation in hand. She asked how far I wanted to take it and whether I wanted the landlady arrested, fined and put in prison... I replied yes! She said she'd deal with the case herself and has given me contact details and an appointment to come see her later in the week.

Thanks for the support guys

Touche wrote: »

I'm not fussed about prison tbh. I'd have been happiest with all my property back and no pay off but her spending a night in a cell... she needs to be made aware that you can't just kick someone onto the street. I'm now homeless!

poppysarah

dopester wrote: »

Actually I don't know if a prison term is appropriate.

What would be appropriate is being banned from being a landlord.

Imp

poppysarah wrote: »

What would be appropriate is being banned from being a landlord.

How about, as you should not profit from illegal activities, and the landlord carried out landlording in an illegal fashion, they should be fined to the value of all their landlording profit and capital gains.

poppysarah

Nah,

If you treat an animal badly the courts will ban you from keeping animals.
If you treat tenants badly the courts should ban you from keeping tenants.

tabskitten

If the OP walked out of a shop having absent mindedly forgotten to pay for a few hundred pounds worth of items would the sympathy still be on their side.

Why does everyone assume LL's are fatcats?
I certainly am not! I gave my tenant the benefit of the doubt and it has left me short of 2k.

I am not saying the OP was treated fairly- just pointing out that if a place to live is such an important factor in your life then you should prioritise making sure it is paid for. And that people seem to forget that LL's have bills to pay too, and without them many people would not have nice places to live and rent.