A landlord has been jailed for three months after illegally evicting a young couple and their four-month-old baby. He was also ordered to pay a total of £4500 in costs and compensation.
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Mr Bayton Fundira, was jailed after the court heard that he went to his house of multiple occupation in Hollow Way on November 4th 2010 and entered the room he rented to the young family.
The landlord, who lives in Hollow Way, removed all their possessions from the room and changed the lock to the door.
The eviction was discovered when one of the tenants returned home from work on the same day and found the door to his room locked and all their possessions dumped in the kitchen extension.
Oxford City Council’s Tenancy Relations Officer, Jackie Mogridge, visited the next day to carry out an investigation and discovered Mr Fundira had moved another tenant into the room.
The 34-year-old had been found guilty of an offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 by magistrates sitting at Oxford Magistrates Court on 6 February 2012 following a two day trial.
The magistrates sentenced the landlord to three months in prison on 19 March.
Mr Fundira appealed against his sentence today and his appeal was dismissed. He was ordered to pay £2000 costs and £2500 compensation to the evicted family.
Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader of Oxford City Council, says: “The courts have sent out a strong message by sending this rogue landlord to prison for three months.
“It is the Council’s responsibility to help protect the vulnerable and we are working hard to make sure tenants in the private rented sector in Oxford are not being exploited.
“There is a clear and straightforward legal process for landlords who want to evict their tenants and the courts have backed up our policy of taking tough enforcement action against those who illegally take tenants’ homes from them.”
Bayton Fundira is the third landlord in the last two years who has been given a custodial sentence for illegally evicting tenants from their homes following prosecutions by Oxford City Council.
In November 2010, Kenston McIntosh of Freelands Road, Oxford was given a three month prison sentence and in November 2011, Peter Johnson-Bowler, of Magdalen Road Oxford, was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months as well as 60 hours community service.
For residents concerned about unlawful eviction call Jackie Mogridge on 01865 252267.
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