TWO rogue landlords unlawfully evicted their "vulnerable" tenants by changing the locks on their flat while they were out.

Brothers Aynul Hoque, 52, of Merrimans Hill Road, Worcester and Mohammad Hoque, 41, of Chestnut Walk, Worcester, left their tenants homeless after changing the locks while they were out at a hospital appointment and leaving a note on the door.

The brothers both denied charges of unlawful eviction but were found guilty at Worcester Magistrates Court and ordered to pay a total of £6,520.

The teenage tenants – described in court as “vulnerable” – returned to their flat at 93 Bromyard Road, in St John's, Worcester, on August 31, 2016 to find the locks had been changed without their permission.

Returning from their hospital appointment, they found a note left on the door saying “lock has been changed, do not force to break in – contact the landlord”.

They were forced to register as homeless with Worcester City Council, which was able to provide them with temporary accommodation.

The court heard that the landlords had rented one of the five flats in the property to the teenage couple, aged 19 and 17, for £550 a month.

After being contacted by the tenants, Worcester City Council’s housing department advised Aynul Hoque that he had to serve a formal notice on the tenants in order to legally evict them and that he needed to allow them to return to the property.

Magistrates convicted Hoque and Hoque, finding that they had unlawfully evicted the couple by changing the locks and failing to provide a key.

They said the tenants were clearly still resident in the property and the defendants had no reason to believe that they had ceased to occupy the flat.

Hoque and Hoque were each fined £1,800 and ordered to pay victim surcharges of £170 and costs of £1,290.

Commenting on the case, the city council's strategic housing manager, Nina Warrington, said: “The victim of this unlawful eviction has been very brave in pursuing this case and giving evidence in court.

“The case shows that landlords need to abide by the law, just like everyone else, and must always follow the proper process to evict tenants.

"I want to send a clear message that when there is evidence of rogue landlords unlawfully evicting tenants, Worcester City Council will not hesitate to take action, pursue them through the courts and press for the strongest fines and sentences.”