Rent arrears is the most common reason for eviction.

But you might have other grounds on your notice. For example, if:

• you break your tenancy agreement

• the tenancy passes to you after a death

• your landlord wants the property back to sell or move in

Your landlord might want you to leave even if you have done nothing wrong.

If you break your agreement

Your landlord might want to evict you for one or more of these reasons:

• you break a term in your tenancy agreement (ground 12)

• you let conditions in your home get worse (ground 13)

• you cause a nuisance or break the law (ground 14)

• you damage the furniture in your home (ground 15)

A judge looks at evidence from you and your landlord. They might either:

• decide the eviction can go ahead

• let you stay if it's not reasonable to evict you

If the tenancy passes to you after a death

Your landlord might use ground 7 when a tenant has died.

They cannot use this ground to evict you in any of these situations:

• you were joint tenants with the person who died

• the tenant who died was your partner and you lived there together

• it is more than 12 months since the original tenant died

Your landlord cannot usually use this ground if the tenancy passes to you either:

• under the will and you live there as your main home

• as the closest relative and you live there as your main home

But they could use this ground if you inherited it from someone who also inherited in this way.

If you get a notice for another reason

These reasons for eviction can only be used in some situations:

• your landlord or their family want to move in (ground 1)

• 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)

Antisocial behaviour

There are 2 antisocial behaviour grounds - ground 14 and ground 7A.

The court can stop an eviction on ground 14. But they will not usually do this if there are still serious problems in your tenancy. For example, neighbour nuisance or criminal activity.

The court cannot stop an eviction on ground 7A if your landlord gets the notice right and can prove the ground. Private landlords do not use this ground very often.

When an eviction could be stopped

With most grounds the court could stop an eviction if:

• the notice is not valid

• the ground cannot be used

• your landlord cannot prove their reason for the ground

• your deposit is not protected or returned by the hearing

More on section 8 court hearings.