Section 21 eviction
The law has changed
Private tenants can only be evicted with a section 21 notice if both these things apply:
you got a valid notice before 1 May 2026
your landlord applied for an eviction order before 1 August 2026
What is a section 21 notice?
A section 21 notice is the first stage of eviction from an assured shorthold tenancy.
To use a section 21, your landlord had to:
give you a valid notice before 1 May 2026
apply to court before 1 August 2026
Your section 21 is not valid if your landlord missed either deadline.
You are now likely to have an assured tenancy.
This gives you stronger rights and better protection from eviction.
You can stay when the notice ends
Your tenancy continues until you either:
agree to leave and move out
give notice to end your tenancy
are evicted by court bailiffs
More on staying after a section 21.
If your landlord has applied to court
It does not mean you have done something wrong if your landlord goes to court.
The court makes sure:
the notice is valid
the landlord has taken the right steps to evict you
It could still take a few weeks or months to be evicted.
More on how long an eviction takes.
Why you should check your notice
If your notice is not valid:
you can stay in your home
the court should not say you can be evicted
your landlord cannot give you a new section 21 notice
Your landlord cannot give you a section 21 notice from 1 May 2026.
Free help and advice
An adviser or the council can help check the notice.
You can get:
free legal help if you're facing eviction
council support if you're at risk of being homeless
Your eviction is illegal if your landlord does not:
give you the right notice
get an eviction order from court
Last updated: 3 August 2026
