Report Illegal Eviction Letter: Free Template and What to Include

If you need to report unlawful eviction or harassment by landlord to local authority, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong report illegal eviction should include.

What this letter needs to cover

• Describe the specific acts of illegal eviction or harassment with dates
• Reference the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 making it a criminal offence to evict without a court order or to harass a tenant
• Demand immediate cessation and reinstatement if locked out
• Confirm the matter will be reported to the local council Tenancy Relations Officer and the police if necessary

Why illegal eviction is taken so seriously

Illegal eviction — being locked out, having belongings removed, or otherwise forced out without the landlord following the correct legal process — is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, not just a civil housing dispute. Reporting this to the local authority triggers a genuinely different, more serious response than an ordinary tenancy complaint.

What to include before you send it

• A clear, factual timeline of what happened — dates, specific actions taken by the landlord, and any witnesses
• Confirmation of whether you still have any belongings in the property, or access has been denied
• Any evidence — photos, messages, or witness accounts
• A request for the local authority's tenancy relations or housing enforcement team to investigate urgently

What to do immediately if you're facing this right now

If you've genuinely been locked out or evicted without a court order, this is an emergency situation — contact the police (illegal eviction is a criminal matter) and your local council's emergency housing or homelessness team the same day, rather than waiting to send a formal letter first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a landlord ever evict me without going to court?
Usually not — your landlord must give proper notice and, if you don't leave voluntarily, get a court order and use bailiffs; but if you have an excluded tenancy or licence (for example, you live with your landlord), your landlord does not have to go to court. Unless you have an excluded tenancy or licence, a landlord changing locks or removing belongings themselves is not a lawful eviction process.

What compensation might I be entitled to?
You may be entitled to compensation for the illegal eviction itself, plus any losses suffered — such as the cost of emergency accommodation or damaged/lost belongings.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
[Your Telephone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Landlord or Letting Agent Name]
[Landlord or Letting Agent Address]
[Landlord or Letting Agent Postcode]
[Date]

Dear [Landlord or Letting Agent Name],

Subject: Illegal eviction at [Address]

I am writing about your actions to remove me from my home without a court order. On [Date], you [e.g. changed the locks / forced me out / cut off the gas and electricity / removed my belongings].

Under the [England and Wales: Protection from Eviction Act 1977 / Scotland: Rent (Scotland) Act 1984], it is a criminal offence to evict a tenant without a court order, or to harass a tenant to make them leave. To end a tenancy legally, a landlord must give a valid notice and then get a possession order from the court.

Please let me back into my home and restore [my access / the utilities] immediately. If you do not do so by [Time] on [Date], I will report this to the local council's Tenancy Relations Officer and to the police, and I may apply to the court for an injunction and claim compensation.

Please reply in writing by that time.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]