Possession & Section 21

Under the Housing Act 1988, landlords have been able to issue a Section 21 notice to evict a tenant without providing a reason. This is known as a "no-fault" eviction, and is often used when a landlord wishes to sell the property or move in themselves.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will see the abolition of Section 21, meaning that landlords can still regain possession of a property for a range of reasons, including the above, but the process will now require them to state specific grounds for possession.

Grounds for possession will include

Selling the property: Landlords can regain possession if they intend to sell. This will require 4 months' notice and cannot be used for the first 12 months of a tenancy.
Moving in: Landlords or close family members can reclaim the property for personal use. This will require 4 months' notice and cannot be used for the first 12 months of a tenancy.
Tenant fault: Grounds such as rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, or breach of tenancy remain valid, and landlords will be able to give shorter notice periods for these.
Repeated serious arrears: A new ground allows possession for tenants who are persistently in rent arrears. This will require 4 weeks' notice.

Got a question about your rental property?

If you have any questions for our team about the Renters' Rights Bill and what it means for you as a landlord, please contact your nearest lettings branch or fill in your details below and we'll get back to you.

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