Greetings all
And thank you to anyone who is reading this.
I took a tenancy on a house feb 25th 2009. The contract is titled as an assured shorthold but was only for a period of 3 months. I am informed that by defualt it is actually a 6 month regardless of the 3 month period stated. I was requested to sign another 6 month contract after the 3 months lapsed which i refused to do. My relationship with my landlady then became frosty at best.
On oct 24th I contacted my landlady and informed her that I would be moving and was giving my notice. She hit the roof...
She demanded 2 months notice and said some very unwelcome comments about me and my familys trustworthyness. I thought given her attitude that she would try a money grab with our deposit and went to my solicitor for advice. It transpires that she had not utilized the DPS scheme. I informed her of the penaltys for this and she then ceased all contact with me.
Only breaking her silence to give me her work address as a contact for correspondance.
I had mentioned on facebook that I was going to be taking my belongings to my new town and put in storage on wed 11th nov. On tues 10th i recieved an unanounced visit from her father and brother. They were demanding to collect the keys from me the following day. I informed them that I had legal tenancy until the 24th and could not comply. They then started to berate me about my desicion to goto the small claims court over failure to comply with DPS. I have a heart condition that they are well aware of. The stress from this encounter triggered an angina attack and I had to demand that they leave. They did not leave until I had requested 5 times that they did so.
Wed 11th arrives and I spend the morning loading a man and van with my belongings. He leaves and me and my family jump on a train to follow our belongings and spend a few days in a hotel while we begin our search for a new home. Within 30 mins of leaving the property I recieve a phone call from my landlady demanding the keys. I inform her that she will recieve them by post or courier by the end of my tenacy.
So to be clear. My notice expires on the 24th nov.. and I am still in possession of the keys.
I have now recieved communication from my landlady. She informs me that she utilized a locksmith to gain entry to the property and has changed the locks. And will be taking the fee for the locksmith out of my deposit.
My neighbour also comfirms that he saw HER FATHER AND BROTHER ..not a locksmith, changing the locks on the property within 30 mins of me leaving that day. I have informed her that I concider this illegal eviction.
She has since paid my deopsit into a DPS scheme (1 week ago).... but I intend to continue my procceedings against her.
SO.. have I been illegaly evicted? What steps can I take to get some satisfaction???

I took a tenancy on a house feb 25th 2009. The contract is titled as an assured shorthold but was only for a period of 3 months. I am informed that by defualt it is actually a 6 month regardless of the 3 month period stated. I was requested to sign another 6 month contract after the 3 months lapsed which i refused to do. My relationship with my landlady then became frosty at best.
On oct 24th I contacted my landlady and informed her that I would be moving and was giving my notice. She hit the roof...
She demanded 2 months notice and said some very unwelcome comments about me and my familys trustworthyness. I thought given her attitude that she would try a money grab with our deposit and went to my solicitor for advice. It transpires that she had not utilized the DPS scheme. I informed her of the penaltys for this and she then ceased all contact with me.
Only breaking her silence to give me her work address as a contact for correspondance.
I had mentioned on facebook that I was going to be taking my belongings to my new town and put in storage on wed 11th nov. On tues 10th i recieved an unanounced visit from her father and brother. They were demanding to collect the keys from me the following day. I informed them that I had legal tenancy until the 24th and could not comply. They then started to berate me about my desicion to goto the small claims court over failure to comply with DPS. I have a heart condition that they are well aware of. The stress from this encounter triggered an angina attack and I had to demand that they leave. They did not leave until I had requested 5 times that they did so.
Wed 11th arrives and I spend the morning loading a man and van with my belongings. He leaves and me and my family jump on a train to follow our belongings and spend a few days in a hotel while we begin our search for a new home. Within 30 mins of leaving the property I recieve a phone call from my landlady demanding the keys. I inform her that she will recieve them by post or courier by the end of my tenacy.
So to be clear. My notice expires on the 24th nov.. and I am still in possession of the keys.
I have now recieved communication from my landlady. She informs me that she utilized a locksmith to gain entry to the property and has changed the locks. And will be taking the fee for the locksmith out of my deposit.
My neighbour also comfirms that he saw HER FATHER AND BROTHER ..not a locksmith, changing the locks on the property within 30 mins of me leaving that day. I have informed her that I concider this illegal eviction.
She has since paid my deopsit into a DPS scheme (1 week ago).... but I intend to continue my procceedings against her.
SO.. have I been illegaly evicted? What steps can I take to get some satisfaction???
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