What to Do If You Are Threatened With an Eviction

There are a whole range of factors that will determine whether an eviction, and eviction notices are lawful and whether anything can be done to stop or delay them.

Every circumstance is different and the specifics of each case will determine what can or cannot be done. Contact us as soon as you receive notice of an eviction.

Contact details are listed below.

If you leave it until the night before the police or bailiffs are due to turn up to contact someone, there is very little that can be done.

There are four main types of evictions. These are:

• Evictions by the Police and Local Authority from public or private land;
• Evictions from private land by private landowner;
• Evictions by planning authorities under planning law; and
• Evictions from local authority and private rented sites.

The first thing you need to know in any eviction is:

• What kind of land or whose land are you being evicted from?: Private/public land, highway, etc.
• Who exactly is evicting you? Is it a private landowner: a local authority, the police, planning authority, etc.
• Which powers/laws exactly are being used to evict you?: Section 61 eviction, Section 62a, Section 77, Part 55, etc

The answers to these three questions are essential information and anyone you contact for help will need to know this before they will be able to do anything. As soon as you have gathered this information, call someone straight away.

How to get help

Community Law Partnership 

Telephone: 0121 685 8595

Website: Community Law Partnership

Parminder Sanghera offers advice to Travellers.

Friends, Families and Travellers

Advice Line: 01273 234 777 | 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (with exception of Bank Holidays).

It is always worth double checking that the person / body trying to evict you

• actually owns or has license over the all of the land in question;
• is using the correct powers and has followed the correct legal procedure to evict you; and
• that the land for which the possession order is being sought is that and only that which is being trespassed.

Further resources

Find a list of Traveller friendly solicitors in our Services Directory.

Read advice from Marc Willers QC on Evictions from unauthorised encampments.

Correct as of January 2024.