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My brother and I rent an office but are behind on the rent. The landlord has padlocked the front door without informing us. Am I breaking the law if I remove the padlocks to recover my property and then replace them?
My brother and I are renting an office but we are behind with the rent due to a foreign cheque waiting to be cleared. The landlord has put two padlocks on a grille over the front door without informing us and I have some personal property contained within the premises that I desperately require. The landlord is withholding this property for the back rent, without any form of Court Order. Am I breaking any laws if I remove the padlocks to recover my property and then replace them? What should the Landlord have done?
Depending on the terms of the lease the landlord is entitled to forfeit your tenancy (take possession) for non-payment of rent. He will have had to have used a registered Bailiff to do this. If he has, you will need to apply to the Court for relief from forfeiture which will require you to pay all of the arrears and the landlord's legal costs. He cannot prevent you from collecting your belongings however. If he forfeits the tenancy he cannot distrain for rent as well. If the landlord has chained up the property himself without using the appropriate Bailiff you can re-take possession should you wish.
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