Landlady questioned for 8 hours over harassment after she tried to collect rent

A property landlord was arrested and held by police for eight hours for chasing up a tenant who left her home in a horrendous state and hadn't paid the rent.

Wendy Batt, 46, from Hockley, who owns and rents out several properties in south Essex, had been renting a flat to a couple in Shoebury. However, the tenants were getting further and further behind in rent and, after neighbours reported bad smells coming from the property, Mrs Batt decided to visit the house.

Mrs Batt realised the tenants had fled the property, leaving her out of pocket and with a huge clean-up bill. She said: "They left my house in a terrible state and owed me rent as well. They left cats in there who had been peeing and pooing all over it."



Mrs Batt was told by a neighbour where one of the tenants worked, and contacted her three times to try and recoup her money.

But she was arrested on suspicion of harassment for her efforts, questioned by police for eight hours and released on bail. Six weeks later, when she turned up to answer bail, she was told she would face no charges.

Police spokesman Nishan Wijeratne confirmed Ms Batt had been arrested on suspicion of harassment and released without charge.