Cardiff Landlord Prosecuted for Unlawful Eviction via WhatsApp

A landlord in Cardiff has been prosecuted for unlawfully evicting her tenants by using WhatsApp. Cardiff Magistrates’ Court found Nicole May, from Brooks Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, guilty of illegal eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. She has been ordered to pay a total of £945 in fines and costs.

On 14 February, the court heard that tenants at Ms. May’s property on Moorland Rd, Splott, were forced to leave their rented home on 28 May 2024. The eviction occurred after Ms. May and her family members entered the house without permission and demanded that the tenants vacate the premises.

Just a few weeks earlier, Ms. May had sent a WhatsApp message to the tenants requesting that they leave, but she failed to follow the legal procedure for serving an eviction notice.

During the incident on 28 May, the police were called to the property. The tenants, unable to stay in the house, were forced to rely on family and friends for accommodation and storage of their belongings.

Ms. May was fined £461, ordered to pay costs of £300, and a victim surcharge of £184.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Councillor Lynda Thorne, commented, “The tenants involved in this case have been deeply affected by their experience. By highlighting such situations, we hope to raise awareness among other tenants about their rights and the importance of seeking assistance from the Council. This prosecution sends a clear message to unscrupulous landlords that the Council will take legal action to protect tenants and their wellbeing.”