Coventry City Council has successfully prosecuted a landlord for illegally evicting his tenants.
Wajid Hussain, a landlord of a property in Holbrooks, Coventry changed the locks to the property on the 2 September 2023, whilst his tenants were on holiday without obtaining a possession order.
An investigation by the council’s landlord and tenant liaison officer discovered evidence that Hussain had been in receipt of rent from the tenant less than a week before he changed the locks unlawfully.
Although the landlord Hussain stated he believed the tenants no longer lived at the property he admitted in interview that he had received the money from the tenants and that the tenants still had belongings in the property.
On the 30 October 2025 at Coventry Magistrates Court the offence of illegal eviction, as per the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, was proven before a district judge with both the Council Officer and tenants giving evidence.
Hussain was ordered to pay £3,991.66, including the council’s costs.
Adrian Chowns, head of safer housing and communities, said: “This case emphasises the critical importance for landlords to adhere rigorously to proper procedures when managing tenant relations.
“The recently introduced Renters Rights Act further strengthens tenant protections, making compliance even more imperative and I hope this serves as a clear reminder to the minority of landlords that the Council is steadfast in its commitment to supporting tenants and where appropriate is prepared to take decisive action to protect residents from unlawful eviction and harassment, providing tenants with the security they rightly deserve.”
Sign of things to come…
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So, you can be fined £30k for not having a selective license plus a rent repayment order (or zero if you’re a government minister in a Labour borough!), but only £4k for illegal eviction.
When a council actually decides to take an opportunity to fine a rogue landlord, please make a real example of him… 2 year’s rent plus a rent repayment order!
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He got off very lightly, too lightly.
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The RRA will allow Local Authorities to issue financial penalties of up to £40,000 for illegal eviction or harassment offences under the PfEA and, additionally, give the tenant the right to apply for a RRO.
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