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Like any other person living in Northern Ireland, you have a right to safely and peacefully enjoy your home. If you feel that you are being harassed, seek help and advice about how to protect your rights.
My landlord is harassing me
Any act carried out by a landlord (or someone acting for your landlord) with a purpose to stop you living peacefully in your home is considered a harassment.
Your landlord will be harassing you if s/he tries to force you to move out without following the proper eviction procedure, which is giving you 4 weeks notice to quit and a court order.
In other cases, your landlord may try to make life so uncomfortable for you that you decide to leave 'voluntarily'. S/he may try to do so by:
- threatening you
- entering or getting others (builders, for example) to enter your home without permission
- allowing your home to get into a state of serious disrepair
- leaving building works unfinished
- insisting that you sign agreements that reduce your rights
You may experience harassment because of your race, gender, sexuality or religion or for no apparent reason at all. Your landlord could be guilty of a criminal offence if s/he is harassing you.
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What can I do if I'm being harassed?
Don't wait until the harassment is obvious or intentional before acting. You can:
- ask your landlord to stop
- keep evidence of what happens
- go to an advice centre for help
- ask your landlord to put all communication with you in writing
- write to the landlord saying if the harassment continues you will take legal action
If you are still having problems and if you find yourself in an emergency such as being locked out, you can report the situation to the  Environmental Health Department of your local council.
You may want to contact the police if you have been threatened with violence or the environmental health department isn't able to help immediately. However, the police may be unaware of your rights. If possible, get a letter from an advice centre setting out your rights.
If you decide to challenge harassment, take precaution as your actions can make the landlord start eviction procedures and cause you to loose your home.
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