A landlord and letting agent have been ordered to repay rent totalling £10,560 after illegally evicting and harassing a tenant.

Kieran David Parker returned to his flat in Lambeth, London, late one night to find the locks had been changed, and his belongings were later dumped outside the front door.

He tried unsuccessfully to contact the agent, Extra Link Ltd, and the landlord, Li Li (also known as Li Xu and Crystal Lin), and was forced to ‘sofa surf’ for a few months before he could find somewhere to live.

Illegal eviction

Parker was not issued with an eviction notice, and applied for a Rent Repayment Order on the basis of illegal eviction from the flat in Coverley Point, Tyers Street (pictured).

Now a residential property tribunal has ordered the agent and landlord to repay a year’s worth of rent, £10,560, to Parker.

Sexually harassed

Parker claimed he had been sexually harassed by an employee of Extra Link, Jasmine Sun, who allegedly demanded sex in return for a rent reduction. He refused and reported the incident to the police.

The tribunal considers the respondents’ conduct to be of the most serious and reprehensible nature.”

Judge Lorna Tagliavini said in her ruling: “The tribunal considers the respondents’ conduct to be of the most serious and reprehensible nature for which no explanation has been offered.

“The tribunal is satisfied so that it is sure that the first, second and third respondents harassed and unlawfully evicted the applicant.”

The Judge said Parker was entitled to recover the maximum a year’s rent of £880 per month, totalling £10,560, which must be paid within 14 days.

Read the full judgement here.

Read more about rent repayment orders.