If you get a notice before 1 May 2026

Your landlord might give you a:

• section 21 eviction notice - they do not need a reason

• section 8 eviction notice - they need a reason like rent arrears

A section 21 must give you at least 2 months' notice.

Your landlord can only give you a section 21 notice in a fixed term if either:

• the 2 months' notice period ends after the fixed term

• your tenancy agreement has a break clause

A break clause is a term in your agreement that lets both you or the landlord give notice to end the tenancy early.

Get the notice checked

A student advice centre can check the eviction notice.

If the notice is valid, your landlord can ask the court to evict you after the notice ends.

Most students move out if a notice is valid to avoid the stress and costs of being evicted through court.

If you get a notice on or after 1 May 2026

Your landlord cannot give you a section 21 notice from 1 May 2026.

They could still give you a section 8 notice if they have a legal reason.

Legal reasons for eviction are called 'grounds' on the notice. The grounds have numbers.

Some legal reasons are:

• missed or late rent payments (grounds 8, 10 and 11)

• too much noise or antisocial behaviour (grounds 7A and 14)

• you break a term in your tenancy like smoking or subletting (ground 12)

The court can sometimes stop an eviction on these grounds.

Check if the notice mentions ground 4A

Ground 4A is a new eviction ground for students.

It can be used in some student tenancies from 1 May 2026.

It means your landlord wants to rent the property to a new group of students.

A court cannot stop an eviction on ground 4A if your landlord:

• can use the ground

• takes the right steps

When your landlord can use ground 4A

Your landlord must write to you by 31 May to say that they intend to rent the property out to a new group of full time students.

Your landlord must also:

• give you at least 4 months' notice before starting court action

• start court action by 30 September 2026 if you do not leave

Your landlord can only use ground 4A if both of these are true:

• you share a kitchen or bathroom with at least 2 other students

• you were all expected to be full time students during the tenancy

When your landlord cannot use ground 4A

Your landlord cannot use ground 4A in any of these situations:

• you only share with 1 other student

• you live on your own or with your children

• you share a house or flat with renters who are not students

• your landlord wants to rent to non-students or as a holiday let

• your landlord wants to sell or move in themselves