Interference with quiet enjoyment occurs when a landlord or their agent unreasonably disturbs a tenant’s possession, privacy, or peaceful use of a rental property, such as through unannounced visits, harassment, or cutting off utilities. It is an implied legal covenant, not requiring complete silence, but rather freedom from substantial, sustained disruption by the landlord.

Common Examples of Interference
Unannounced Visits: Landlords entering without providing at least 24 hours’ written notice or without the tenant’s consent.
Harassment: Aggressive, threatening communication or frequent, unnecessary, or unarranged visits.
Unauthorized Access/Viewings: Entering or conducting viewings when not permitted, particularly when the tenancy is ending.
Utility Interruption: Interfering with services like water, gas, or electricity.
Refusal to Address Nuisances: Failure to act on severe, persistent noise issues from other tenants managed by the same landlord.

Tenant Rights and Remedies
Exclusive Possession: Tenants have the right to refuse entry to the landlord unless it is an emergency.
Repairs & Access: Tenants must allow access for repairs, but only with proper notice.
Legal Action: Tenants can sue for damages, seek injunctions in the County Court, or report harassment to the local authority.
Shelter – The housing and homelessness charity

Breaches must be “substantial,” meaning more than trivial inconvenience. For example, the landlord in Kenny v Preen [1963] breached this covenant through threatening letters and shouting, which disturbed the tenant’s possession and peace.