08. What can I do if my landlord is harassing me?

If you are being harassed, or if you are facing illegal eviction by a private landlord, contact the person at your local council who deals with harassment and illegal evictions (sometimes called the tenancy relations officer). Look in your phone book for details. They should try and deal with the harassment, and talk to your landlord about his or her legal obligations. They may also prosecute the landlord, but only in extreme cases - for example, if the landlord is violent, or is known to have harassed tenants in the past.

You can also take action through the courts yourself, though you'll need expert legal help to do this. You or your adviser can apply for an injunction to stop your landlord harassing you and let you back into your home. If the landlord does not do this, he or she may be fined or sent to prison. You should also be able to claim compensation. If the case is urgent, you can apply for an emergency injunction (court order) that will usually last for up to a week, before there is a fuller court hearing.

See the Community Legal Service Direct leaflet 'Renting and Letting' for more information about your rights if your landlord wants you to leave, and about the legal procedures that must be followed before you are evicted. In any case, you should get advice and help as soon as possible.