Protection from Harassment Act 1997
1997 c. 40 · 23 provisionsView on legislation.gov.uk
An Act to make provision for protecting persons from harassment and similar conduct.
Our take on Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Harassment by a landlord, agent or neighbour need not be about getting you out for this Act to help. Two or more incidents that a reasonable person would see as harassment can be enough, whereas the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 harassment offence needs a link to making you leave or give up your rights. Harassment is a crime the police can pursue, and you can also sue for damages for anxiety and financial loss. In our view a court injunction matters most, since breaching one is a crime carrying up to five years. Courts want conduct that is oppressive and unacceptable, so reasonable, lawful steps to recover rent or possession rarely count.
- Abbasi and another v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2025] UKSC 15
- Hayes v Willoughby [2013] UKSC 17
- James Rhodes (Appellant) v OPO (by his litigation friend BHM) and another (Respondents) [2015] UKSC 32
- R (on the application of Catt) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and another [2015] UKSC 9
- R v London Borough of Newham and London Borough of Lewisham [2014] UKSC 62
- The Kingdom of Bahrain v Shehabi and another [2026] UKSC 25
- Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses v BXB [2023] UKSC 15
- X v Lord Advocate [2025] UKSC 44
About this text
This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.
Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.

