A Sheffield landlord has been fined £250 for harassing his tenant by sending text messages demanding rent.
Steven Loxley of Chesterfield Road, Sheffield, sent a series of text messages to his tenant (Amanda Muscroft) demanding money owed and ultimately changed the locks to her home, despite warnings being given to him by Sheffield City Council’s Tenancy Relations Officers.
Problems began in late December 2009 when Ms Muscroft lost her job and had to claim job seekers allowance and housing benefit. This resulted in delayed rent payments.
Mr Loxley visited Ms Muscroft in early January and asking about the rent. This was followed by a series of text messages that were sent almost on a daily basis asking when the rent would be paid.
Mr Loxley later served notice to quit on Ms Muscroft, however, after taking legal advice she was advised that the notice was defective.
Council officers warned Mr Loxley twice about his behaviour but Ms Muscroft continued to receive the messages including, in one text, a warning that a lodger would move in the very next day.
In late April Ms Muscroft moved out of the property, however a Tenancy Relations Officer advised Mr Loxley against doing anything on the basis of thinking that the tenancy was over. When Ms Muscroft returned to the property a few days later she found the locks had been changed.
Sheffield Council prosecuted Mr Loxley. He pleaded guilty to an offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. Under the Act a landlord is guilty of an offence if he does acts likely to interfere with the peace and comfort of the tenant and does so knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that his conduct is likely to cause the tenant to leave.
He was ordered to pay a £250 fine, a £15 victim surcharge and £425 legal costs.
