Tenant sues pub landlord over eviction during demolition for £100,000
Nicola Saia is suing landlord Ravinder Laly and his company for up to £100,000, alleging they harassed him and unlawfully evicted him from a flat inside The Cricketers pub in Kennington. He says builders began removing the roof while he was asleep, leaving debris inside and access to the property blocked; the case raises questions about how occupants can be removed from buildings facing demolition.
At Central London County Court, Saia’s barrister said Laly had warned that demolition would begin, water was cut off, and locked gates left Saia trapped on 18 and 25 July 2023. Saia left on 29 July after the flat became uninhabitable, and is seeking compensation for distress and harm to his mental health. Laly denies harassment and unlawful eviction, and disputes that Saia was legally his or the company’s tenant; the pub was demolished in 2024.
- Nicola Saia is seeking up to £100,000 from his former landlord.
- He alleges demolition began while he was inside the flat.
- The landlord denies the claims and disputes his tenancy.
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Nicola Saia lived in a flat inside The Cricketers pub in Kennington, a building scheduled for demolition. He claims the landlord and his company forced him out by removing the roof whilst he slept, cutting off water and locking gates—actions that made the flat uninhabitable and left him no choice but to leave.
Disputes over how tenants should be treated during demolition are uncommon in court, making this case significant. It raises questions about what legal protections residents have when their building is being demolished and what actions landlords can legally take to remove occupants.
Saia is claiming £100,000 in compensation for harassment, distress and damage to his mental health. Landlord Ravinder Laly denies the allegations and disputes whether Saia was legally his tenant. The pub was demolished in 2024.
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The case for
Even if Saia's tenancy status were disputed, deliberately making a dwelling uninhabitable by removing the roof whilst occupied, cutting the water supply, and blocking access constitutes harassment and constructive eviction under housing law. Laly had proper legal remedies available through eviction proceedings; instead, he created dangerous, uninhabitable conditions to force removal without due process, causing documented psychological harm in breach of fundamental landlord duties.
The case against
Saia's status as a lawful tenant is fundamentally disputed, particularly given the unusual arrangement of residing within a pub; if he lacked formal tenancy protections, Laly retained full property rights over the premises. The demolition was lawful and necessary, and whilst his methods were severe, they represented expedited removal for a legitimate development purpose rather than harassment designed to cause harm.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Landlord who began demolishing iconic London pub ‘while tenant was still asleep inside’ is sued for £100,000”.