Landlord selling your home?
This guide is for private assured tenants.
From 1 May 2026 most renters have this tenancy type.
Check your tenancy type if you need to.
Eviction after a section 8 notice
Your landlord must give you a section 8 notice if they want you to leave.
They need a legal reason to evict you. These are called grounds on the notice. Each ground has a number.
Your landlord can use ground 1A if they want to sell your home.
Your landlord cannot just tell you to leave because they are selling. Telling you to leave is not a legal notice.
Example of a notice which is not legal
Leila rents from a private landlord.
Her landlord emails to say they are selling. The email tells her to move out so her landlord can get the property ready for sale.
The email is not a legal notice. Leila does not have to leave.
Leila can tell her landlord that:
she can stay even if they want to sell
her tenancy continues until it ends legally
her landlord needs to take the right legal steps to end her tenancy
When can your landlord use ground 1A?
You should get at least 4 months' notice.
Your landlord must ask a court for an eviction order if you stay after your notice ends.
Your landlord must usually wait at least a year from your tenancy start date to ask a court for an eviction order.
When your landlord does not have to wait a year
Your landlord does not have to wait a year to ask for a court order if they are forced to sell the property.
For example, if the council says your landlord must sell because of local redevelopment.
Example of when a landlord could apply for an eviction order
Tom's tenancy started on 1 January.
Tom's landlord decides she wants to evict him so she can sell the property.
On 1 July she gives Tom a section 8 notice that mentions ground 1A.
The earliest date Tom's landlord can apply for an eviction order is 1 January the following year. This is because it is a year since his tenancy started.
The latest date Tom's landlord can apply for an eviction order is 1 July the following year. A section 8 notice cannot be used more than a year after it is given to a tenant.
When your landlord cannot use ground 1A
Your landlord cannot use this ground if you already had an assured tenancy before 1 May 2026.
For example, if both of these things are true:
you moved in before 28 February 1997
you were not given a notice to say you had an assured shorthold tenancy (AST)
Your court hearing
You should go to the court hearing if your landlord asks a court for an eviction order.
The court sends you:
a letter telling you when the hearing is
a defence form to send back to the court
A judge looks at evidence to decide if you should be evicted.
The judge makes an order to evict you if your landlord:
can prove they are selling your home
gave you a valid section 8 notice
More about section 8 court hearings.
When you could stop the eviction
Your landlord must prove to the court they are selling.
You could stop the eviction if you have evidence that your landlord does not plan to sell.
For example:
emails or messages that show your landlord does not really want to sell
evidence that your landlord is advertising for new tenants
You can:
send the court your evidence with your defence form
tell the court duty adviser or the judge at your hearing
Is your tenancy deposit protected?
Check if your tenancy deposit is protected.
A court cannot order your eviction if your deposit has not been protected or returned by the time of your hearing.
If your landlord dies
Your rights stay the same if your landlord dies and a relative either:
becomes your new landlord
looks after your tenancy while they deal with your landlord's estate
If your landlord rents the property out
Your landlord must not rent the property out again for a set time after evicting you with ground 1A.
They must not rent it out for a year after your notice ends.
You can report your landlord to your council if they break this rule.
The council can fine your landlord.
Get legal help as soon as you get a notice.
An adviser can check the notice to see if it is valid.
Last updated: 1 May 2026
