Landlord to pay £5k for evicting Kings Heath mum and son
A landlord was fined at Birmingham Magistrates Court today (14 December 2015) for illegally evicting a mother and her 11 year old son from their home in Kings Heath last summer and has to pay more than £5k.
Sead Alimajstorovic , age 38, of East Holme, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, was fined £1,035, with £4,044.75 costs and a victim surcharge of £104 after pleading guilty to an offence of unlawful eviction.
Mr Alimajstorovic had threatened to change the locks and unlawfully evict the mum and her son. When she contacted the council for help, officers advised the landlord of the legal process and the consequences for him if he carried out his threat.
Despite this, he and another man changed the locks to her house. When she regained access using a locksmith he arranged for the locks to be drilled out. After this she was too scared to stay at the property so left the property to stay with a friend.
On 2 July 2014 the tenant met Mr Alimajstorovic at Kings Heath Police Station where she expected to be given a set of keys for the new locks but was instead given a written note saying she could not move back into the house and that her belongings were in the garden and shed.
Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for Neighbourhood Management and Homes, Cllr John Cotton, said: “When relationships break down between and landlords and tenants there are strict legal processes that have to be followed and council officers are here to help both sides move forward.
“Unfortunately, despite being advised by council officers as to the correct procedures, Mr Alimajstorovic instead chose to harass his tenant and her son by interfering with the locks and removed their property and put it in the garden.
“This took place as her son neared the end of his primary school life. It should have been a time for celebration but was instead a time of fear and instability and I am glad that council officers have been able to support this family and successfully prosecute this unscrupulous landlord.”
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For further media information or to arrange an interview with Cllr Cotton, contact Debbie Harrison on 303 4476
Note to Editors
Sead Alimajstorovic pleaded guilty to the charge that between 27 February 2014 and 3 July 2014 he unlawfully deprived or attempted to unlawfully deprive the residential occupier of 10 Hill Croft Road of her occupation of the premises – Section 1(2) of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.
