feel like im being harrased by letting agent - can they do this?

Yorkie1

If you do choose to go to the police, it's the criminal offences under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. If they try to say it's just civil, ask to speak to someone more senior who is familiar with the relevant laws.

lynzpower

http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/illegal-eviction-and-the-police/

Some other interesting articles on Protection from Eviction Act on Nearly legal eg above

skint-student-nurse

thanks again guys....
well,this moring, they decided to step it up a gear and constantly rang my landline and bully me. unfortunatly I do not have caller display so everytime the phone rang, i had to answer it as i did not know who it was. they proceeded to ring me four times in ten minutes,the first time i hung up after i said that i wll not speak to them on the phone,they rang three times more and twisted what i had,gone against what they said and i said that is excatly why i didnt want to speak to them on the phone. They even offered to come up tp my flat to which i said no, i want 24 hours written notice as i have a right to quiet enjoyment of the property, to which he agreed,so i asked why is it acceptable for you just to turn up?!

I have now reported them to the police and have had some advice but unfortunatly i have only just seen yorkies comment im off to the CAB later to see what else can be done. Im so peed off, im really not well and had to get out and go to the police station because they will not leave me alone

N79

Ok - harassment aside, in order to make sure your conduct is whiter than whiter (and to set the groundwork for a subsequent illegal eviction complaint if it ever comes to that) I would suggest that you do the following:

Write once more to the agent. In your letter state:

1. Unequivocally that you intend to continue your tenancy until further notice or a court terminates the tenancy.
2. Explain again the actions you intend to take to bring you rent up to date. Be as specific as you can regarding timescales.
3. List the agents unacceptable actions to date and state that you are finding these actions intrusive, scary, unacceptable etc and that they must stop.
4. State what you want the agent to do: ie all future communication regarding the arrears and access to the property in writing (or all future communication in writing but bear in mind this could cause delays in getting repairs done).
5. Close by saying that you will keep the LL informed of all updates to the situation.

Send recorded delivery (or two copies from two post offices with proof of posting if you think they will refuse to sign) and keep a copy for your own records. Then make sure you do everything you said you would in the letter (especially the keeping them informed - you could write every 2-3 weeks giving them an update on when you will start to clear the arrears). You should also start making small payments towards the arrears when you have the funds available.

Of course the agents may well service formal notice on you for the arrears (especially if they reach 2 months rent unpaid - which will be one day after your next months rent is due unless you manage to make some sort of payment) and start court action.