Section 8 eviction notices
Guide for private tenants with a section 8 notice.
How much notice should you get?
Your notice period depends on why your landlord wants you to leave.
It is the time between:
when your landlord gives you the notice
the earliest date your landlord can start court action
Check the notice
Your notice tells you why your landlord wants you to leave.
It lists the possession grounds. The grounds have numbers.
The earliest date for court action is written on your notice in paragraph 5.
Count back to the date you got the notice to check you've had the right amount of notice.
Your landlord cannot usually evict you if they get the notice wrong.
The notice periods on this page are for section 8 notices on or after 1 May 2026.
Most section 8 notices before 1 May 2026 only had to give 2 weeks' notice.
4 weeks' notice for rent arrears or paying late
The notice should mention one or more of these grounds:
you owe at least 3 months' rent (ground 8)
you owe some rent (ground 10)
you often pay rent late (ground 11)
Before 1 May 2026, your landlord could use ground 8 if you owed at least 2 months' rent.
More on rent arrears grounds.
2 weeks' notice for breaking your agreement
The notice should mention one or more of these grounds:
you break a term in your tenancy agreement (ground 12)
you let conditions in your home get worse (ground 13)
you damage the furniture in your home (ground 15)
No minimum notice for antisocial behaviour
This means your landlord can apply to court as soon as they have given you the notice.
The notice should mention ground 7A or ground 14 or both.
These grounds could be used if you cause problems for your landlord or neighbours. For example, loud noise or criminal activity.
Your landlord can also use these grounds if a visitor or someone who lives with you causes problems.
2 months' notice if a tenant has died
The notice should mention ground 7.
This ground can only be used in some situations.
More on inheriting a private tenancy.
4 months' notice for other possession grounds
The notice should mention one of these grounds:
your landlord wants to sell (ground 1A)
your landlord's lender wants to sell after mortgage repossession (ground 2)
it's a student house share and your landlord wants to rent to other students (ground 4A)
Get free legal advice
Look for help as soon as you get a notice.
Find a legal adviser on GOV.UK.
Tick 'housing loss prevention advice service' on the search tool.
You could get more legal help if you get benefits or have a low income.
Last updated: 1 May 2026
