You could be evicted if your section 21 notice is valid.

You do not have to leave right away. Your landlord must apply to court for an order to evict you.

More on staying after a section 21 notice runs out.

If your notice is not valid

Your landlord cannot evict you with the notice if it is not valid.

A section 21 notice is not valid if your landlord did any of these:

• gave it to you on or after 1 May 2026

• used the wrong form for the notice

• gave you less than 2 months' notice

• gave you notice in the first 4 months of your tenancy

• broke other rules for landlords

• leaves it too late to ask a court for an eviction order

If your landlord applies to court too late

Your landlord had to apply to court by the date that came first:

• 6 months after they gave you the section 21 notice

• 31 July 2026

The court cannot give the landlord an order to evict you if they missed this deadline.

If they still want to evict you, your landlord has to give you a section 8 notice.

What form should the notice be on?

Your section 21 notice should be on Form 6A.

It could be valid if it has the same information as the form.

The notice is not valid if your landlord only:

• sent a message or email telling you to go

• told you to leave in person or on the phone

How much notice should you get?

You should get at least 2 months' notice.

Check the date the notice says you should leave after. This date must be at least 2 months after your landlord gave you the notice.

Sometimes the notice should be longer. For example, you must get at least 3 months' notice if you pay rent every 3 months.

More on how long an eviction takes.

Has your landlord broken any other rules?