Are the English civil and criminal remedies for harassment and illegal eviction fit for purpose? Short report

Landlords do not always follow their legislative obligations in bringing a tenancy to a close. In some cases, landlords resort to harassment and illegal eviction. This is a hugely damaging experience for tenants and can include months of abusive behaviour culminating in loss of home. This research used quantitative and qualitative data to explore the operation of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 (PfEA 1977), which defines harassment and illegal eviction as criminal offences. The report concludes that the PfEA 1977 itself offers limited protection, and the responses of local authorities and police compounds the trauma of tenants’ experience of the crime.