Eviction of private tenants

This content applies to England only.

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

Private landlords usually have to follow special legal procedures in order to evict tenants. They sometimes need a particular legal reason to evict tenants but in many cases they don't. Whether your landlord can evict you and how, depends on the type of tenancy you have.

If your landlord has told you to leave, use our eviction checker to find out what process they are legally required to follow.

You should also contact an adviser to see if there's anything you can do to keep your home. Use our directory to find an advice centre in your area.

The steps involved

The basic steps that are involved in an eviction. Not all private tenants have rights at each of these stages.

Notice from the landlord

Most private landlords have to give you written notice if they want you to leave. But there are exceptions.

Eviction procedures

Some private tenants can be evicted more easily than others. The rules depend on the type of tenancy you have.


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