Section 8 eviction notices
Guide for private tenants with a section 8 notice.
Rent arrears and section 8
Missed payments and late rent are the most common reasons for a section 8 notice.
Your landlord might use one or more of these grounds on the notice:
ground 8 - you owe at least 3 months' rent
ground 10 - you owe some rent
ground 11 - you often pay your rent late
Your landlord will probably use ground 8 if you owe a lot of rent. They might wait until they can use this ground on the notice.
Changes to ground 8
The Renters' Rights Act increased the amount of rent you must owe before your landlord can use ground 8.
But the old rules still apply if you got your notice before 1 May 2026.
Table: Ground 8 on the notice
This table shows how much rent you must owe for your landlord to use ground 8.
Get your rent arrears below these levels before the hearing date if you can.
| Date you got the section 8 notice | Rent you owe |
|---|---|
| Before 1 May 2026 | 2 months' arrears or more |
| On or after 1 May 2026 | 3 months' arrears or more |
Paying back rent arrears can help stop your eviction.
Find out what happens at court.
Video: 5 things to do if you get a rent arrears notice
Video transcript
5 things to do if you get a rent arrears notice
1. Make sure it's a proper notice
It's a legal form. Your landlord can't just write you a note or send you a text.
2. Check if your landlord has used 'ground 8'
Ground 8 can be a problem. Landlords often use it if you owe more than 3 months' rent.
The judge must order eviction if you still owe this amount on the court date.
But if you can get your arrears down below 3 months the judge could let you stay.
3. Ask the council for help with rent
You could get discretionary housing payments (DHP) on top of your benefits.
Or you might get on the housing register if you're struggling with private rents.
4. Start paying off your arrears as soon as you can
Talk to your landlord. Try and agree a repayment plan. They might delay court action if you start paying regularly.
5. Go to the court hearing
You could get free legal advice in advance or on the day.
You're only with the judge for about 10 minutes, and an adviser can speak for you.
Remember, the judge might let you stay if you're paying your rent and have less than 3 months arrears.
Our adviser has 5 tips to help you stay in your home if you get a rent arrears notice.
[Video length: 01:15]
Pay off rent arrears
Talk to your landlord about the missed payments and try to agree a repayment plan.
The court cannot usually stop a ground 8 eviction if you still owe a lot of rent at the hearing.
The court can stop an eviction on grounds 10 or 11. But you need to show you can:
pay your full rent
pay back the arrears over time
See our guide to rent arrears.
It has letter templates to send your landlord.
Example: Section 8 notice for rent arrears
Mel rents from a private landlord. She tries to pay her rent in full and on time.
But Mel works on a zero hours contract. She has missed some payments and now owes more than 3 months' rent.
Her landlord gives her a section 8 notice. It lists grounds 8, 10 and 11.
Mel should:
try to pay off rent arrears or get them below 3 months
The court could stop the eviction if she can get her arrears below 3 months by the hearing.
If you cannot afford rent or have other debts
You could:
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: 13 May 2026
