Eviction notices from private landlords

Your landlord must give you an eviction notice if they want to end your tenancy.

It takes time for your landlord to evict you. There are 3 stages for most private renters:

1. notice

2. court action

3. eviction by bailiffs

If your landlord or agent does not follow these steps it could be an illegal eviction.

Lodgers who live with a landlord have less rights.

Your landlord must give you a valid notice

You should get a written notice even if you do not have a written tenancy agreement.

Check your tenancy type with our tenancy checker.

Renters' Rights Act changes to eviction notices

On 1 May 2026 eviction law for most private tenants changed.

Most assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) became assured tenancies.

If your landlord gave you a notice before 1 May 2026

You might still have an AST if the notice is valid.

This makes it easier for your landlord to evict you.

But they must still go to court. They have to apply to court by 31 July 2026 at the latest.

More on:

• section 21 eviction notices

• section 8 eviction notices from before the Renters' Rights Act

If your landlord gave you a notice before 1 May 2026 which is not valid, they cannot use the notice to evict you. You will also have an assured tenancy with stronger rights.

Try to get legal help to check:

• if the notice is valid

• if you could stop eviction

Section 8 notices

Most private renters now have assured tenancies.

Your landlord must use a section 8 eviction notice if you have an assured tenancy.

Your landlord needs a legal reason called a 'ground' to use this type of notice. They have to prove the ground at a court hearing.

The most common reason for a section 8 notice is rent arrears.

You can also get a section 8 notice for other reasons. For example, if your landlord wants to:

• sell the property

• move in themselves

Your landlord has a year from when they give you a section 8 notice to start court action. If they do not apply to court within this time they cannot use the notice.

More on:

• section 8 eviction notices

• section 8 court hearings

Notice to quit

A notice to quit is used to end some less common types of tenancy.

Your landlord cannot use this type of notice if you have an assured tenancy.

The most common situations where you might get a notice to quit are:

• you're a property guardian

• you're a student in halls of residence

• you and your landlord live in separate flats in a converted house

• you rent from your employer and you have to live there to do the job

Notice to quit from a landlord must:

• give at least 4 weeks' notice

• end on the first or last day of a tenancy period

• contain certain legal information, including where to get advice

It can only be used to end a rolling agreement. For example, a monthly or weekly agreement.

Notice for regulated or protected tenants

You have strong tenancy rights with this type of private tenancy.

You can only be evicted from your home if both:

• your landlord has a legal reason

• a court agrees that eviction is reasonable

More on eviction of regulated tenants.