Nelson landlord’s son guilty of forcibly evicting tenant
Published Wednesday 16th December 09
A Pendle landlord’s son has pleaded guilty at Burnley Crown Court to unlawfully evicting a tenant from his Nelson property.
Mr Junead Hussain of Nelson admitted to forcibly removing Mr Peter Boothman from his father's rented property on Vaughan Street in the early hours of 3rd December 2008.
He smashed the kitchen window to try to enter the property and eventually gained entry by forcing through the front door.
He was fined £500, together with a £15 victim surcharge and £100 contribution to the prosecution's costs.
The judge warned him not to behave like this again and said that it was thuggish behaviour.
Sarah Briggs, Senior Environmental Health Officer from Pendle Council's Housing Standards Team, said:
"Landlords requiring tenants to leave their property must issue them with what's known as a Notice seeking possession.
"They must also apply for a possession order.
"Ultimately, only a County Court Bailiff can physically evict a tenant."
Councillor Sonia Robinson, Pendle Council's spokesperson for Housing Regeneration Services, added:
"It is unacceptable for landlords or anyone acting on behalf of a landlord to threaten to or physically remove a tenant from a rented property.
"I'd like to urge landlords to follow the correct procedures and not to take matters into their own hands."
"And if they're you're unclear of the procedure, please seek legal advice."
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