Eviction

This content applies to England only.

Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland

All landlords have to follow special legal procedures in order to evict tenants. There are laws to protect you. Whether or not your landlord can evict you and how the process works will depend on the type of tenancy you have. If your landlord doesn't follow the right procedure, s/he may be committing a criminal offence.

It's never too late to get help, but the sooner you do so the better. If it's an emergency, use our directory to find an advice centre in your area.

Preventing eviction

If your landlord wants to evict you because of something you have done, you may be able to take action to change the situation.

Eviction of council tenants

Generally you have the right to stay in your home, providing you don't break the rules of your tenancy. The procedure the council must follow will depend on the type of tenancy you have.

Eviction of housing association tenants

Whatever type of tenancy you have, a housing association should only evict its tenants as a last resort.

Eviction of private tenants

Private landlords sometimes need a particular legal reason to evict tenants but in many cases they don't. The rules depend on the type of tenancy you have.

Eviction if you are sent to prison

If you are sent to prison and it looks like you have ‘abandoned’ your home or that you don’t live there anymore, your landlord may try to evict you. You can take action to challenge this.

Eviction from mobile homes

This section explains what you can do if your landlord or the site owner asks you to leave.

Eviction of Gypsies and Travellers

Information about when and how Gypsies and Travellers can be evicted from land they have stopped on.

Harassment and illegal eviction by landlord

Are you having serious problems with a landlord? If what they are doing counts as harassment or illegal eviction, they may be committing an offence and can be prosecuted.