Action against landlord following unlawful eviction
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
A landlord has been fined following a successful investigation into an unlawful eviction in Leighton Buzzard by our Private Sector Housing team.
The investigation, launched in April 2024, focused on a property on North Street and uncovered serious breaches of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. The case was brought before Luton Magistrates' Court on 1 August 2025, where the landlord, Mr Stuart Lance Kellman, pleaded guilty to 2 offences: unlawfully depriving a tenant of access to their home and unlawfully removing the tenant’s belongings.
Mr Kellman was sentenced and fined and now carries a criminal conviction for these offences. The outcome sends a clear and powerful message: unlawful behaviour by rogue landlords will not be tolerated.
Councillor Steven Watkins, our Executive Member for Housing and Assets, said:
We are pleased with the outcome of this case, which reflects the seriousness of the offences and the risk posed to tenants. It demonstrates our firm stance against rogue landlords. We will not hesitate to take legal action against those who breach their responsibilities and put tenants at risk. Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their home, and we are committed to protecting that right.
We continue to actively investigate reports of unlawful landlord behaviour and encourage tenants to come forward if they believe their rights have been violated.