A government watchdog has criticised Maidstone Borough Council and ordered it to pay more than £4,000 after a landlord forcibly evicted a family of homeless refugees.

The couple and their two children had been living in temporary accommodation in Maidstone, arranged by the authority via a private landlord, after they were granted asylum in 2015.

But after a minor dispute the family, who were not named in the report, were ordered to pack immediately and to live in a B&B for 11 weeks while alternative housing was found.

The landlord said they breached their tenancy agreement by moving furniture and causing damage, which included pen marks on the walls, stains on the carpet and a broken lampshade.

During the eviction, last July, the landlord put the family’s belongings outside and stopped them accessing parts of the flat – including not allowing the young children to use the toilet.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, who reviewed the case, said the eviction was unlawful and found a number of faults with the way the council handled the situation.

The report said the family should have been given a written warning and were entitled to 28 days’ notice to leave the flat by law.

The body has urged MBC to apologise and repay £2,170 for costs incurred, including a week’s B&B accommodation, and a further £2,000 for the distress and inconvenience caused.

Ombudsman Michael King said: "Maidstone council sided with the landlord and allowed him to unlawfully evict this family... without hearing the family's point of view."

The council said it had since made changes, including investing in more of its own accommodation, decreasing reliance on B&Bs, introducing licence agreements and increasing staff in the housing advice service.