What counts as landlord harassment and how to stop it

Your landlord keeps showing up without warning. They've "lost" your repair request three times now. Or maybe they've started leaving notes about your lease that read more like threats than reminders.

Whatever the specifics, your own home has started to feel unsafe. And you're wondering whether this is actually illegal, or whether your landlord is being difficult.

If your landlord is deliberately making your life miserable to push you out or stop you from exercising your rights, that's harassment. In England and Wales, it's a criminal offence.

What is considered harassment from a landlord

The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 says that harassment means anything likely to interfere with your peace or comfort, or persistently taking away services you need to live in your home. So, if your landlord is doing things to make your home unliveable or to frighten you into leaving, the law is on your side.

Here's what it looks like in practice:

• Turning up without warning. Your landlord needs to give at least 24 hours' written notice before entering, and only at reasonable times. The only exception is a genuine emergency like a burst pipe.
• Cutting off gas, electricity, or water. Always illegal. No exceptions.
• Refusing to fix things. Deliberately ignoring repair requests until the place falls apart around you.
• Threatening eviction after you complain. You reported damp to the council and now your landlord wants you out. That's landlord retaliation, and it's specifically prohibited.
• Changing the locks while you're out. This is illegal eviction. A separate criminal offence on its own.
• Constant calls, texts, or visits. Landlord intimidation doesn't have to be loud. Sometimes it's a pattern of small acts designed to wear you down.

Landlord harassment laws in England and Wales

Three laws do the heavy lifting.

The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 makes harassment a criminal offence. Your landlord faces an unlimited fine and up to 2 years in prison. Your local council has a legal duty to investigate under Section 6 of the Act, and they can prosecute on your behalf. That costs you nothing.

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 gives you the right to take civil action and get an injunction. That's a court order telling your landlord to stop, backed by the threat of contempt of court if they ignore it.

From 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 strengthens protections further. Section 21 "no fault" evictions are abolished in England. Councils gain new powers to issue civil penalties of up to £7,000 for a first breach and up to £40,000 for repeat offenders. If your landlord retaliates after a legitimate complaint, they'll face far steeper consequences than before.

How to report landlord harassment

Before you report anything, gather your evidence. Write down every incident with the date, time, and what happened. Save texts, emails, voicemails, and WhatsApp messages. Photograph any damage. If neighbours witnessed something, ask them to note down what they saw.

Then you have several options, and none of them cost you a penny:

Your local council. Ask for the tenancy relations officer (sometimes called a housing enforcement officer). Their job is to investigate harassment under the Protection from Eviction Act. They can take your landlord to criminal court. You don't need a solicitor.

The police. If there are threats, violence, or illegal entry, call 101 (or 999 if you're in immediate danger). Get a crime reference number and keep it safe.

Remedy Legal. We can support you with gathering and organising evidence, communicating with your local council or the court system, and support you to exercise your rights.

Can you sue your landlord for harassment?

Yes. You can take your landlord to the County Court for compensation, and the amounts can be significant.

Courts look at the difference between what the property is worth with you living in it and what it would fetch empty. In London and other high-value areas, that gap can mean tens of thousands of pounds awarded in your favour. On top of that, you can claim for distress and inconvenience, and the court can order your landlord to cover your legal costs.

If the criminal courts convict your landlord separately, the penalties stack: unlimited fine plus up to 2 years in prison, on top of whatever compensation you receive through the civil route.

What to do right now if your landlord is harassing you

Start with three things today:

1. Record everything. Date, time, what happened. Include things from weeks ago. Your memory now is sharper than it will be in three months.
2. Send something in writing. An email or letter to your landlord describing the behaviour and asking them to stop. This creates a paper trail showing you raised it.
3. Call your council. Ask for the tenancy relations officer. They can investigate and prosecute, and it costs you nothing.

You don't have to work this out on your own. Remedy helps renters in England and Wales figure out what to do when a landlord crosses the line. You can walk through your situation and get clear guidance on your next steps.