Revenge eviction if you ask for repairs
From 1 May 2026, your private landlord cannot give you a section 21 eviction notice.
This means they cannot evict you just because you:
ask for repairs
complain about your home
You have stronger rights because of the Renters' Rights Act.
If you were given a notice before 1 May 2026
Your rights might not have changed if the notice is valid.
A section 21 notice is valid if your landlord:
used the right form
gave at least 2 months' notice
did not break other rules for landlords
Check a section 21 notice is valid.
Are you protected from a revenge eviction?
You could be protected if you complained to the council about repairs in your home.
You are only protected if the council gave your landlord an:
improvement notice
emergency works notice
The council should have sent you copies of any notices they gave your landlord.
These notices would have stopped your landlord giving you a valid section 21 notice for 6 months. It also means that a notice given before you complained to the council might not be valid.
Sometimes the council take no action or less formal action against your landlord. In this situation, your notice might still be valid.
If your landlord has another reason to evict you, they could still give you a section 8 notice.
How to stop a revenge eviction
Tell your landlord they cannot use the section 21 notice if the council gave them an improvement or emergency works notice.
You can ask your council for help. They can speak to your landlord for you.
Use our letter template
Copy our letter template into an email to your landlord:
[Use the subject: Section 21 notice not valid]
You gave me a section 21 notice after I complained about repairs at [address].
The council gave you an [improvement or emergency works notice] on [date].
This means the section 21 notice is not valid.
The law has changed. You cannot give me another section 21 notice from 1 May 2026 because of the Renters' Right Act.
You can also send the letter as an email attachment or by post:
Word template: Revenge eviction section 21 not valid (docx 17kb)
OpenDocument template: Revenge eviction section 21 not valid (odt 9kb)
Tell the court your eviction notice is not valid
Your landlord must ask a court for an order to evict you.
The court sends you a form to fill in to say why you should not be evicted.
This is called a defence form.
Send a copy of the council's improvement or emergency works notice to the court with your defence form.
More on challenging section 21 eviction in court.
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
