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Section 21 validity checker

Use our section 21 validity checker tool to find out if a notice is invalid.

The law has changed

The Renters' Rights Act abolished section 21 notices in the private rented sector from 1 May 2026.

This page covers the rules on section 21 notices for private tenancies before 1 May 2026 and section 21 notices in social housing.

A landlord of an assured shorthold tenant can use a section 21 notice to end a tenancy without a legal ground.

How the checker works:

  • we ask you some questions

  • you select answers from a list of options

  • we tell you if your answer means that a section 21 notice might be invalid

Some questions are about documents the landlord should give the tenant. For example, an energy performance certificate. If you don't know the answer, choose 'I don't know".

A section 21 notice might be invalid for more than one reason. Answer all the questions to make sure you get the right information.

We cannot guarantee the answers are 100% accurate in all cases.

This content applies to England

Who is the landlord?

Different rules apply depending on who the landlord is.

Social landlords include private registered providers of social housing and housing associations. Local authority landlords cannot issue assured shorthold tenancies or section 21 notices.

Last updated: 1 May 2026

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