UKMy landlord harasses me to leave. Is this a criminal offence?
Yes, harassing a tenant to leave their home is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.
What the Law Says
The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 makes it a criminal offence for a landlord (or anyone acting on their behalf) to harass a residential occupier with the intention of causing them to leave their home or refrain from exercising their rights as a tenant.
Harassment includes actions like cutting off utilities, changing locks without consent, threatening behaviour, repeated unwarranted visits, or removing belongings — especially if done to force someone out.
The law applies to all residential occupiers, including tenants, licensees, and even some squatters with factual occupation.
It is not necessary for the landlord to succeed in making you leave — the act of harassment itself is enough to break the law.
Statutory TextA person is guilty of an offence if he does acts likely to interfere with the peace or comfort of a residential occupier or persistently withdraws or withholds services reasonably required for the occupation of the premises, knowing that the acts or withdrawal or withholding are likely to cause the occupier to give up the occupation of the premises or to refrain from exercising any right or pursuing any remedy in respect of the premises.
— Protection from Eviction Act 1977, s. 1 — Offence of harassment
What to Do
Keep a detailed written record of every incident — dates, times, what was said/done, and any witnesses.
Report the harassment to the police — it is a criminal offence and they can investigate.
Contact your local council’s housing enforcement team — they have powers to prosecute and issue banning orders.
Seek urgent legal advice — you may be able to apply for an injunction or claim damages in civil court.
Do not move out unless you choose to — leaving under pressure may weaken your rights, but does not excuse the landlord’s conduct.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.