Gary Kway, regional manager of a Katherine-based maintenance company, moved to Katherine 12 months ago, and found a home for himself and his family in Hudspeth Lane, Katherine East, in February.

But now his landlord is going to "kick out" the family - and Mr Kway claims it is because his wife "isn't from here".

The 50-year-old said he moved into the Hudspeth home together with his three-year-old daughter Pitch, while his wife Kim and son Water, 10, spent two months in Mrs Kway's birth-country of Cambodia.

But since the family's reunion Mr Kway's landlord has thrown a spanner is the Kway's plans of making Katherine their home.

"He (the landlord) knew I was married and he knew my wife was coming back to live in the house," Mr Kway said.

"He knew of the situation and he knew she was pregnant."

Mr Kway said it was agreed that the "rent would go up" at the Hudspeth home upon Mrs Kway's return to Katherine.

"When I told the landlord that Kim was back he said the rent would go up from $250 to $400 - which is incredible - but as there are no rental properties in Katherine I said I would make an effort to pay $400.

"That's when he (the landlord) said 'Then it's maybe $500'.

"He then sent a real estate agent into the house behind my back to get a condition report so he could rent the house out again.

"He made it clear that he doesn't have a problem with me and my daughter living here, but he doesn't want Kim and my boy here.

"He doesn't like her, because she's not from here.

"That's prejudice.

"And he's worked out that he can get much more rent because so many people are looking for houses in Katherine."

Mr Kway said his landlord came to the family's home last night, trying to stop Mr Kway from accessing his belongings.

"He locked the gate and stood there, like a security guard, and wouldn't let us access anything inside the house.

"He doesn't want to acknowledge the law - under the tenancy act he has to give us six weeks notice to vacate, he can't just make us leave."

Mr Kway said he had sought legal advice, and last night police were called to the family home.

He said the situation was "very stressful" on his pregnant wife, who is due with their third child in September.

"It's very hard on everyone and we don't want to be a part of all this mess," he said.

"We want to move out and we have found somewhere where we can stay in a week's time - but the landlord wants us to be gone right now.

"We can't afford $200 a night at a motel - and if he comes back tonight to make us leave we'll literally be longrassing."

Mrs Kway said last night the landlord's partner came to the house and started "banging saucepans", tried to break Mrs Kway's phone and made her daughter cry.

"My wife got scared and had to hide in the car," Mr Kway said.

The family man said he was going to give two weeks' notice this afternoon, as per Tenancy Act - and he is hoping the situation won't escalate even more.

"I'm worried we won't have anywhere to go tonight."