A LANDLORD has been ordered to pay thousands of pounds compensation after illegally making his tenant homeless following a campaign of harassment.

Private landlord Simon Knight was prosecuted by Winchester City Council (WCC) after kicking out the resident of a home in Langton Road, Bishop’s Waltham, in November 2016.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard how Knight, of Norwood Green, had told the tenant to move out, but rather than taking the legal route, he attempted to push them by removing the tenant’s bedroom door and bed, padlocking the communal bathroom door shut and disconnecting the power to the shower.

Knight also failed to repair the oven door, washing machine, tumble dryer and kitchen extractor fan.

When that didn’t work Knight changed the locks while the man was out, preventing accessing to his belongings including essential medication. He was also left homeless for two nights as a result.

Following an investigation by WCC, Knight was convicted earlier this month.

District Judge Greenfield sentenced him to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and imposed a 16-week curfew between 8pm and 6am.

Knight was also ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to his former tenant, pay costs of £8,490, and a victim surcharge of £115.

Following the sentencing, council leader and portfolio holder for housing councillor Caroline Horrill said: “This result sends a strong message that the city council will not tolerate rogue landlords taking advantage of their tenants private rented accommodation being in an unfit or unsafe condition.

“Whilst we have a positive relationship with most landlords in the district, the actions of this landlord were evidentially unacceptable and resulted in real hardship for the tenant he illegally evicted.”