Comet Newspaper reports - Landlord fined £8000

Leslie Laird fitted new locks and completely emptied the flat – part of the property where he lives in Pirton Road, Holwell, near Hitchin – after tenant Lee Girdlestone challenged the terms of an eviction notice he received in November 2014.

The 73-year-old landlord pleaded not guilty to illegally evicting Mr Girdlestone under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 – but was found guilty following a three-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court last week.

Judge Stuart Bridge ordered him to pay £3,000 compensation to Mr Girdlestone, 47, as well as a £5,000 contribution towards North Hertfordshire District Council’s prosecution costs – making a total bill of £8,000.

The case was brought against Mr Laird by the district council, which was making a prosecution of this sort for the first time.

The court heard that Mr Girdlestone, who entered an assured shorthold tenancy arrangement for the flat in January 2013, fell behind on the rent and was served with notice to vacate the property on November 10, 2014.

After seeking advice from the district council, he told Mr Laird that the notice was invalid as it did not give him the full legal period of time to vacate the flat.

Following a heated argument, Mr Girdlestone returned to the flat on November 26 that year to find the locks changed and his belongings removed, to be collected at a later date.

Mr Laird subsequently had this case brought against him by the district council.

Councillor Bernard Lovewell, who is responsibile for housing, said afterwards: “This is a landmark case for us, and we are pleased with the outcome.

“A private landlord must follow rules for a tenant to be lawfully evicted, which includes giving them a two-month notice period.

“It is a criminal offence to evict a tenant without following the legal steps, and we will seek to prosecute any landlord who illegally takes matters into their own hands.

“We hope this prosecution serves as a deterrent to other landlords.”