City council prosecutes landlady for unlawful eviction and harassment

Salford City Council has prosecuted a landlady who tried to force a tenant out by cutting off the heating, lighting and hot water supplies.

Council staff had to take emergency action to restore power after landlady Catherine Patricia Seale refused to replace fuses she had removed after entering the house without the tenant’s permission.

Ms Seale, 51, of Salisbury Road, Eccles, pleaded not guilty at Manchester Crown Court to an offence of unlawful eviction and harassment under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

She was found guilty after a four-day trial and fined £1,000 with £5,000 costs, and faces 28 days in jail unless she pays within 28 days.

Ms Seale must also pay £250 compensation to the victim.

The court heard that Seale wanted to regain possession of the house but, instead of going through normal possession proceedings entered it and, in front of the tenant, removed the electrical fuses and took them away with her.

The tenant contacted both the council and Citizens Advice but neither could persuade Seale to return the fuses and the council used emergency powers to restore the supply.

Seale claimed she was on a training course in Oldham at the time the offence was committed and forged documentation from her employer to create a false alibi.

Witness summons were obtained for her employers, who gave evidence in court, which proved she had created a false alibi, a council statement said.

Gena Merrett, assistant mayor for housing and environment, said: “There are proper procedures to go through to regain possession of a rented property.

“There was absolutely no call for Mrs Seale to behave in such a disgraceful and unpleasant way towards her tenant. The court’s punishment reflects this.”