20k fine for harassing tenants

Wimbledon-based estate agents Spudnic Ltd has been fined £20,000 for harassing tenants.

Spudnic were found guilty of turning off water and electricity supplies, damaging a toilet, and sealing up letter boxes in an attempt to get out the tenants of a five-bedroom rental property in Ibsley Gardens, Roehampton.

One tenant on returning home found that the front door locks had been changed and all their belongings packed up and removed from the house.

Paul Ellis, Wandsworth Council member for housing, said: ‘This was a truly shocking and relentless campaign of harassment and intimidation carried out against innocent tenants.

‘The tenants were paying their rent on time and were not causing any problems to their neighbours. Yet this company seemed determined to drive them out. Its behaviour was totally unacceptable."

‘If you are a landlord and you would like a tenant to leave then you simply must go through the proper legal channels. Any tenant who is threatened with an illegal eviction or harassment should contact the council’s housing department straight away.’