Nicholas Rawlings, 53, of St Breward, appeared before Bodmin Magistrates’ Court last week, where he pleaded guilty to repeatedly interfering with the tenant’s “peace and comfort” between December 2024 and May 2025.
The court heard that Rawlings wrote to the tenant in December 2024 claiming he would be moving back into the property, despite not having served a valid Section 21 eviction notice.
He then sent a further letter in January 2025 stating that a new tenant would be moving in at the start of March.
These communications caused the tenant significant distress and prompted her to seek help from Cornwall Council.
Rawlings later copied the tenant into emails disputing advice provided by the council’s Tenancy Relations Officer—behaviour likely to discourage her from exercising her legal rights. He also issued an invalid Section 21 notice during the tenancy.
Magistrates fined Rawlings £500 for each of the four offences, totalling £2,000, and ordered him to pay an £800 victim surcharge and £4,183.20 in prosecution costs.
Following the hearing, Stuart Kenney, Cornwall Council’s Group Leader for Private Sector Housing and Licensing Compliance, said the case showed the council’s commitment to protecting tenants from harassment and unlawful pressure.
Cllr Peter La Broy, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, highlighted upcoming changes under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which will end ‘no fault’ Section 21 evictions from 1 May 2026.