Harassment or threatened with eviction - Private Renters in Camden
Harassment or threatened with eviction
Your right to stay in your home
From 1 May 2026, your landlord cannot ask you to leave without a valid legal reason. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 abolishes Section 21 'no fault' evictions. Your landlord must use one of the recognised grounds for possession set out in law and must apply to a court.
What counts as harassment?
It is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 for your landlord or their agent to harass you or attempt to evict you without a court order. Harassment can include:
- Changing the locks or removing your belongings
- Cutting off gas, electricity, or water
- Threatening you or making your life difficult to force you to leave
- Entering your home without notice or permission
- Persistent phone calls or messages designed to intimidate you
What counts as an unlawful eviction?
Your landlord cannot evict you without first obtaining a court order. If they try to remove you from your home without going through the courts, this is an unlawful eviction and a criminal offence. This applies even if you are in rent arrears.
New rules on eviction notices from 1 May 2026
- Your landlord cannot serve a section 21 'notice to quit' — this form of notice no longer applies to assured periodic tenancies.
- Your landlord can only end your tenancy by using a Section 8 notice, setting out a valid ground for possession.
- If your landlord serves any notice that tries to end your tenancy outside this process, they may face a financial penalty of up to £7,000 imposed by Camden Council.
- If your landlord uses a possession ground knowing they cannot succeed, or recklessly, this is a criminal offence. Camden can impose a penalty of up to £40,000 as an alternative to prosecution.
What to do if you are being harassed or threatened with illegal eviction
- Contact Camden Council's Private Sector Housing Service. Go to our Get Help page or call 0207 974 5969.
- Seek legal advice — organisations such as Citizens Advice or Shelter can help. |See our list of partners for other organisations.
- Keep a record of any incidents — dates, times, what was said or done, and any witnesses.
- Do not leave your home voluntarily if you have not received a proper court order
- If anyone tries to remove you or your belongings without legal notice, call the police on 999. This is a guide to how the police should respond.
The Housing Loss Advice Prevention Service
The Housing Loss Advice Prevention Service (HLPAS) provides government-funded legal advice and representation (legal aid) to people facing possession proceedings which could result in the loss of their homes. If somebody receives a notice that they are being evicted, or are being illegally evicted from their home, they will be eligible to receive this free legal assistance. People can search for a local provider on GOV.UK by entering a postcode and ticking 'Housing loss prevention advice service'.
Camden Council's enforcement powers
Camden Council has a duty to enforce the law in this area. We can investigate complaints, impose financial penalties, and bring criminal prosecutions. From 1 May 2026, the maximum civil financial penalty for unlawful eviction and harassment is £40,000.
More information
More information about harassment and illegal eviction can be found on the GOV.UK website.
