A landlord has been convicted for the illegal eviction and harassment of a tenant.

St Albans Magistrates Court heard how Olufemi Forseythe, a Hertfordshire landlord, harassed his tenant at a property in Hatfield, by repeatedly sending messages informing her that he would be moving into the premises without her consent, changing the locks to the premises without her consent, and threatening to call bailiffs to evict her without any legal basis on which to do so. 

Forseythe also repeatedly sent her insulting and aggressive messages.

He also refused to fix a defective boiler resulting in the council having to carry out works instead to reinstate heating and hot water. 

In mitigation, Foresythe’s barrister argued that he lacked experience as a landlord as this was his first tenanted property.

Forseythe was fined a total of £1,800 plus the council’s costs of £750 and costs to the victim of £720.

A council spokesperson says: “Our message to rogue landlords and agents is very clear: we will work tirelessly together with our partners to locate and crack down on unscrupulous landlords and managers who fail in their duty to support tenants, treat them with respect, and keep them safe.”