Landlords need to seek professional help and not take the law into their own hands when reclaiming possession of a property, according to Landlord Assist.

After recovering from the impact of the recession, the residential buy-to-let sector is
currently experiencing a healthier period, with demand for many properties now
exceeding supply and rents being at a record level in most regions of the UK.

However the projected job losses announced as part of the Government Spending review could well have a significant impact on tenants finances over the coming months and force some into having mounting rent arrears with their landlords.

Should landlords fail to receive rent payments for a significant length of time many may be left with no alternative but to evict their tenants. But landlords should think again before undertaking a DIY eviction.

Graham Kinnear, MD at Landlord Assist says: "Although many private landlords provide a good quality service to their tenants, there is a minority who believe that they are above the law and can evict tenants without taking the required steps.

"The only way to bring a tenancy to an end is the voluntary surrender on the part of the tenant or for a landlord to obtain a court order for possession. Any other way is likely to be construed as unlawful eviction, which is a criminal offence."

Examples of illegal eviction can include the following:

* changing the lock whilst the tenant is out
* using violence or threats to force the tenant to leave
* attempting to evict a tenant before the proper legal procedure has been followed

Stephen Parry, Commercial Director at Landlord Assist says: "We accept that the eviction process from a landlords perspective is slightly protracted, particularly given that the tenant may be withholding payment of rent. However, the law must be adhered to and the punishments for not doing so are fairly punitive."

Earlier this month a landlord in Oxford was given a three month jail sentence for unlawfully evicting a tenant, leaving the individual with no accommodation and forced to sleep in an abandoned car.