A London landlord must repay more than £5,000 to tenants she unlawfully evicted after cutting off their electricity and changing the locks.

A First Tier Tribunal found that Gloria Nolte was liable in a case brought by mother and daughter Anita and Yazmin Summan, who claimed they endured verbal abuse, poor living conditions, and an illegal eviction while renting a two-bedroom property on Walthamstow.

It was alleged that the property was infested with mice, had loose electrical sockets, and a noisy boiler. The tribunal also heard a claim that the home was not properly licensed and that the electricity supply could be accessed by a neighbour.

The dispute began after Anita Summan fell into rent arrears totalling £17,000. She claimed harassment from the landlord and her husband contributed to her decision to stop paying rent, alongside financial hardship and ill health. She had lost her job in late 2024 and relied on family for funds.

Landlord Gloria Nolte denied the accusations and argued that she was owed the rent arrears in full. Her representatives described the repayment penalty as excessive, claiming Nolte had been forced to pay her mortgage with a credit card due to the tenants’ non-payment.

In his judgement, Judge Shepherd acknowledged the illegal eviction and poor property conditions but also criticised the tenants for failing to honour their rental agreement and ruled that Nolte likely changed the locks in “desperation” due to the mounting arrears.

He said: “We consider that the premises were in disrepair and there probably was an unlawful eviction in April 2024. However, we also consider that the substantial arrears incurred by the Applicants after the relevant period demonstrated very poor conduct on their part.”

Judge Shepherd awarded Anita 30% of the £16,850 rent she had paid during the tenancy, amounting to £5,055. No additional compensation was granted to cover application and hearing fees.

The tribunal judgement is here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/677684a64961c1185ea21b7e/115_Sturge_decision__003_.pdf