Emergency Consultations & Injunctions
Illegally evicted or locked out? Urgent court protection, today.
Reviewed by Sannah Khatoon — Litigation & Housing Disrepair Solicitor, SRA #654258 (Admitted 2018). Last reviewed 15 September 2026.
If you've been shut out of your home or face imminent harm, court action may be possible within hours. We move fast to get an injunction and get you back inside.
Your rights and the law
If you've been locked out or forced from your home, the law is firmly on your side. For most residential occupiers a landlord must get a court order to evict — throwing you out, changing the locks, removing your belongings or cutting off services without one is a criminal offence of unlawful eviction or harassment (Protection from Eviction Act 1977, ss.1 and 3; Housing Act 1988, s.27 for damages). The county court can grant an urgent injunction, sometimes the same day and without notice to the landlord in a genuine emergency, ordering the landlord to let you back in and to stop harassing you. It can also award damages, which for unlawful eviction can be substantial. Speed matters, and evidence gathered at the time is powerful, so contact us the moment it happens.
How we can help
- Illegal eviction and unlawful lock-outs
- Urgent injunctions to regain entry
- Harassment by landlords
- Out-of-hours emergency advice
How the process works
- Call us immediately. Illegal eviction is an emergency. We take the details straight away and tell you your rights and the fastest route back into your home.
- Put the landlord on notice. Where there's time, we demand your immediate re-admission in writing and warn of court action — which alone often resolves it.
- Apply for an injunction. If needed we apply to the county court for an urgent injunction — sometimes the same day, and without notice in a genuine emergency — to get you back in and stop the harassment.
- Pursue damages. Once you're safe, we pursue compensation for the unlawful eviction or harassment, which can be significant, and report criminal conduct to the council's tenancy-relations team where appropriate.
Evidence that helps your case
- Proof you live there — tenancy agreement, bills, bank statements to the address
- Photos or video of the changed locks, removed belongings or damage
- A timeline of exactly what the landlord said and did, with dates and times
- Names and details of any witnesses
- Texts, emails, voicemails or letters from the landlord
We work on a transparent fixed-fee basis for most housing matters, so you'll know the cost up front — and where a case can be run on a no win, no fee agreement (a CFA, usually with After the Event insurance), we'll explain whether that fits your situation. For urgent help, call 0203 051 7823.
Frequently asked questions
I think I've been illegally evicted — can you help today?
Yes — illegal eviction and lock-outs are serious, and urgent court action can sometimes get you back into your home the same day. Call us straight away for emergency advice, and try to gather proof that you live there and photos of what's happened.
Is it a crime for my landlord to change the locks or throw me out?
For most tenants, yes. Evicting you, changing the locks, removing your belongings or cutting off services without a court order is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. The council can prosecute, and you can seek an injunction and damages through the civil courts.
What is an injunction and how fast can I get one?
An injunction is a court order requiring the landlord to do something (let you back in) or stop something (harassment). In a genuine emergency the county court can grant one urgently — sometimes the same day and without notice to the landlord — and we move fast to secure it.
Can I claim compensation for being illegally evicted?
Yes. As well as getting you back into your home, the court can award damages for unlawful eviction and harassment, which can be substantial — including special damages under the Housing Act 1988 based on the loss caused. We pursue this once your housing is secured.
My landlord is harassing me to make me leave — what counts?
Harassment includes threats, repeated unannounced visits, withholding keys, cutting off gas, water or electricity, or removing your belongings — anything intended to make you give up the property. It's unlawful, and we can seek an injunction to stop it and damages for what you've suffered.
What should I do right now if I've been locked out?
Don't force entry or retaliate. Call us, call 101 to report it to the police if you're being threatened, take photos, and keep any messages from the landlord. The quicker you act, the sooner we can get an injunction to put you back in.
Sources & further reading
- Protection from Eviction Act 1977, s.1 (unlawful eviction & harassment)
- Protection from Eviction Act 1977, s.3
- Housing Act 1988, s.27 (damages for unlawful eviction)
- GOV.UK — Private renting: evictions
This page is general information about the law in England & Wales, not legal advice. Legislation and figures can change — for advice on your circumstances, contact us. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.