A landlord has been ordered to pay more than £1,600 after pleading guilty to an illegal eviction.

Grace Young of Derby let an unfurnished property to a young family for 12 months. Nine months into their tenancy, she handed the tenants a hand-written note asking them to vacate the property immediately. 

She then served two notices seeking possession, one of which was to be invalid.

Young was prosecuted under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 following complaints made to Derby council’s housing standards team in 2022.

At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court, Young was fined £600 and ordered to pay costs of £950. In addition, she was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60.

The court heard that during the notice period, Young began to repeatedly stand outside the property and stare through windows. 

While the tenants were away on a short break, the landlord entered the property and changed the locks without informing the tenants or providing them with new keys.

Following the tenant’s report to the council, the family was offered support and has since found a new home.

A Derby council spokesperson says: “All landlords have a duty of care to their tenants and while the vast majority of private landlords in the city take their legal obligations seriously, there are a small minority who don’t. 

“This prosecution sends a strong message to that minority of unscrupulous landlords that the Council is not afraid to take legal action to safeguard tenants and their wellbeing. I would encourage anyone with concerns about their rented property or their landlord to report this to our team.”