Landlords ordered to pay nearly £18,000 after illegal eviction and harassment

Mary Lewis and Peter Lewis were sentenced at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 11 August 2026. Mary Lewis was sentenced for illegally evicting the tenant, while Peter Lewis was sentenced for harassment intended to make the tenant give up his home.

The court heard that the tenant had rented a room in a house owned by Mary Lewis since 2017. In December 2023, he was told to leave. However, after he explained that the proper legal process had to be followed to end his tenancy, the locks to the property and his room were removed, he was threatened, and his belongings were left on the side of the road. Most of his possessions were stolen before he could collect them.

The tenant, who has a heart condition, became unwell during the incident and was taken to hospital, where he was admitted overnight.

The court was told that he had still not found permanent accommodation more than two years after the eviction.

The court ordered:

• Mary Lewis to pay a £560 fine, £3,000 compensation to the tenant and £6,059 prosecution costs – a total of £9,619
• Peter Lewis to pay a £240 fine, £2,000 compensation to the tenant and £6,059 prosecution costs – a total of £8,299

Both defendants retain the right to appeal their convictions and sentences.

Cllr Natalie Thomas, cabinet member for Safer Homes, Homelessness and Housing Services, said:

“No tenant should be forced from their home through intimidation or by a landlord taking the law into their own hands. This prosecution shows that we will take action to protect tenants and hold unscrupulous landlords to account. We hope the compensation ordered by the court helps the tenant as he continues to recover from this distressing experience.”

Lewisham Council has launched a new Rogue Landlords Taskforce to investigate reports of illegal or unsafe practices by private landlords and can take enforcement action where there is enough evidence, including issuing financial penalties or prosecuting serious cases. Residents who believe their landlord may be breaking the law – for example, by harassing them, illegally evicting or failing to tackle serious hazards – can report it to us for investigation via lewisham.gov.uk/rogue-landlords.