Landlord Wont Return Proprty

[Fleecetenant]

So here is the predicament...moved into a house and lived with a "friend".* There was no tenancy agreement. and after several months there was a falling out.* I had paid monies as contributions to living there but no regular payment as he insisted it was fine and no rental was required.I returned to the property to find I'd been locked out.* All of my belongings are still in the property and he refuses to return them until £1000 is given to him in Cash. I need to understand how I go about Recovering these possessions under Torts interference with goods act 1977. can this be done through small claims, and does there need to be a letter before action?