Landlord locked you out or entering without notice?
Your landlord came into the flat while you were out, or changed the lock and shut you out of a home you are paying for. It feels like the landlord has all the power because the property is theirs. In law, while you are a paying tenant, that home is yours to live in without interference. A lockout is a serious step, not a normal one.
What you are entitled to
A tenant has the right to peaceful possession of the rented home for the agreed period. A landlord generally cannot enter without reasonable notice and your consent. A landlord cannot throw you out by changing locks or removing your things. Eviction has to go through the proper legal process, not force. The law treats a forced lockout seriously.
What to do
- Write to the landlord. Send a message stating what happened and asking for your access to be restored. This keeps a record.
- Collect evidence. Photos of the changed lock, the messages, and anything showing you are a paying tenant, such as the agreement and rent receipts.
- If you have been locked out, treat it as urgent. You can go to the police, and the courts can order your possession restored. Do not try to force your own way back in.
When to go to the police, and when to a lawyer
A lockout, a threat, or your belongings being held is the point to get help fast. Go to the police for the immediate situation, and to a lawyer if it continues, because a forced eviction can be challenged and reversed. This is not a problem to wait out.
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