Unlawful eviction, etc.
60.—(1) Article 54 of the Rent Order (unlawful eviction and harassment of occupier) shall be amended as follows.
(2) With respect to acts done after the commencement of this Order, paragraph (2) shall have effect with the substitution, for the word “calculated”, of the word “likely”.
(3) After that paragraph there shall be inserted–
“(2A) Subject to paragraph (2B), the landlord of a dwelling-house or an agent of the landlord shall be guilty of an offence under this Order if–
(a)he does acts likely to interfere with the peace and comfort of the tenant of the dwelling-house or members of his household, or
(b)he persistently withdraws or withholds services reasonably required for the occupation of the dwelling-house as a residence,
and, (in either case) he knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, that the conduct is likely to cause the tenant to give up occupation of the whole or part of the premises or to refrain from exercising any right or pursuing any remedy in respect of the whole or part of the premises.
(2B) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under paragraph (2A) if he proves that he had reasonable grounds for doing the acts or withdrawing or withholding the services in question.”.