Rogue landlords fined after "dirty tricks" against tenants (From Your Local Guardian)

Wimbledon landlords fined after "dirty tricks" against Wandsworth tenants

7:00am Monday 12th December 2011 in Wandsworth

Property agents who tried to drive out tenants by cutting off electricity, changing locks and sealing off letterboxes have been fined over £20,000.

Wimbledon-based Spudnic Ltd had also sent builders into a tenant's home without warning, leaving it full of rubble and virtually uninhabitable.

In another incident, a tenant came home to find locks changed and their belongings moved out.

Wandsworth Council took legal action after uncovering “a prolonged campaign of dirty tricks” against tenants in the borough.

Last month a trial heard other Spudnic tenants found a notice on their door telling them to move out, because their electricity supply was dangerous, but while they were wondering what to do next, two new tenants arrived who had been told that they could move in.

Councillor Paul Ellis, Wandsworth’s housing spokesman, described it as a “relentless campaign of harassment and intimidation carried out against innocent tenants.”

He said: "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.

“Landlords and their agents should not be under any illusion. We will simply not tolerate them bullying their tenants in this way.”

The jury was also told that Spudnic had demanded papers from a Spanish-born tenant, on threat of reporting him to the Home Office if he didn’t comply.

It also sent false eviction orders and written warnings not to talk to council officers.

Coun Ellis said: "Any tenant who is threatened with an illegal eviction or harassment should contact the council's housing department straight away.”

Spudnic was found guilty of harassment and unlawful eviction at Kingston Crown Court on November 10, although the company's directors were absent.