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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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A landlord in Coventry has been fined £4,000 after illegally evicting tenants from a property while they were on holiday.
During a recent hearing at Coventry Magistrates Court, Wajid Hussain, who also has other busienss interests within the city, was found to have illegally evicted the unnamed tenants from their home in the Holbrooks area (main image) of Coventry on 2 September 2023.
The city’s council says Hussain’s prosecution and fine is rare both locally and nationally because victims tend to be vulnerable and unaware of their rights, and the Landlord and Tenant Liaison Officer involved praised the tenants involved for their bravery and fortitude.
During the court hearing evidence from both the tenant and the Council Officer involved, it emerged that Hussain had been in receipt of rent from the tenant less than a week before he changed the locks unlawfully.
Although the landlord stated he believed the tenants no longer lived at the property he admitted in interview that he had received the money from them and that the tenants still had belongings in the property.
Adrian Chowns (pictured), the council's Head of Safer Housing and Communities, says: "This case emphasises the critical importance for landlords to adhere rigorously to proper procedures when managing tenant relations.
“The recently introduced Renters Rights Act further strengthens tenant protections, making compliance even more imperative and I hope this serves as a clear reminder to the minority of landlords that the Council is steadfast in its commitment to supporting tenants and where appropriate is prepared to take decisive action to protect residents from unlawful eviction and harassment, providing tenants with the security they rightly deserve."
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