Section 8 eviction notices
Guide for private tenants with a section 8 notice.
Section 8 notices from before the Renters' Rights Act
You can still be evicted with a valid notice given before 1 May 2026.
A valid section 8 notice could mean you still have an assured shorthold tenancy.
You need to check:
Can your landlord still use the notice?
Is the notice on the right form?
Did you get the right amount of notice?
Does the notice mention ground 8?
Can your landlord still use the notice?
Your landlord:
cannot apply to court more than a year after giving you the notice
must apply for an eviction order from court by 31 July 2026 at the latest
Get ready for your hearing if you get a letter from the court.
If your landlord does not apply in time
Your landlord cannot evict you with the notice.
Your tenancy becomes an assured tenancy.
Your landlord could give you a new section 8 notice if they have a reason to.
Is the section 8 notice on the right form?
Your notice must be on form 3 or have all the information on this form.
The top of form 3 looks like this:
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO BEGIN PROCEEDINGS FOR POSSESSION OF A PROPERTY IN ENGLAND LET ON AN ASSURED TENANCY OR AN ASSURED AGRICULTURAL OCCUPANCY
FORM NO. 3
Housing Act 1988 section 8 (as amended)
INFORMATION FOR THE TENANT
This notice tells you that your landlord intends to begin proceedings for possession of the property identified in section 2. You should read it carefully and seek advice about your circumstances as quickly as possible.
Did you get the right amount of notice?
Landlords only had to give 2 weeks' notice for most grounds before the law changed.
This includes the rent arrears grounds 8, 10 and 11.
Does the notice mention ground 8?
Before the law changed, landlords could use ground 8 if you owed at least 2 months' rent.
Ground 8 means the court has to order eviction if you still owe this much at the hearing.
Try to get arrears below 2 months by the court hearing.
This could stop your eviction.
More on section 8 court hearings.
Last updated: 1 May 2026
