A landlord was ordered to pay over £2,000 after pleading guilty to an unlawful eviction at Bristol Magistrates court last month. Tahir Aziz of Glen Park, Eastville, failed to provide his tenant with a rental agreement or carry out any repairs, including a major leak.
Aziz responded to the tenant’s complaints to Bristol City Council by asking him to leave the studio flat in Lawrence Hill. The tenant was not given any notice and went home during the winter shortly after the third national lockdown to find the door to his flat nailed shut leaving him homeless.
The police were contacted at this point but Aziz failed to respond to their requests to give the tenant access to the property. Aziz ignored legal advice and claimed during the investigation that he did not know the tenant despite having received rent payments.
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Aziz was prosecuted under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 after Bristol City Council’s Tenancy Relations Officers opened an investigation into the illegal eviction.
At Bristol Magistrates Court on Monday, June 27, Aziz was fined £345 and ordered to pay costs of £775. In addition Aziz was ordered to pay £1,200 in compensation to the victim. The tenant now has the option of suing the landlord for damages and receiving further compensation.
Councillor Tom Renhard, cabinet member for housing delivery and homes, said: “At a time when Bristol is experiencing a renting crisis and increases in rent prices far exceed rises to wages, renters really do deserve greater protection and improved standards.
“The council will take action to crack down on criminal landlords whilst also ensuring renters rights are enforced. The manner of this eviction had serious implications for the renter both personally and professionally, and it is unacceptable that they should left facing homelessness through the illegal acts of a landlord. We will continue to champion stronger protections for renters. This will include continuing to call for section 21 no fault evictions to be banned, among other measures.”
If you have been illegally evicted or harassed out of your home, and are able to provide evidence to support enforcement action, visit Report a rogue landlord - bristol.gov.uk for more information on how to refer your case.
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