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Possession and eviction elearning

Learn about possession and eviction rules for section 21 and section 8 notices, court processes and more with free elearning courses from Shelter.

Online eviction training available now

Get an introduction to the basics or develop your understanding of the tricky bits.

Each course takes 10 to 60 minutes to complete, so you can learn at a pace that suits you.

Who can access Shelter elearning?

You can access most of our elearning for free if you work for an eligible organisation.

Thank you to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for funding these courses. Find out how our work is funded.

If you don't qualify, you can still access our paid courses.

Find out if you qualify for free training

Entry (Level 1)

You don't need any prior knowledge for these courses.

Online elearning and webinars, available free to eligible organisations only.

Funded by the UK Government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Assured and assured shorthold tenancies section 8 notices

Assured and assured shorthold tenancies section 8 notices

Get an overview of how and when a landlord can evict an assured or assured shorthold tenant using a section 8 notice.

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • an overview of the possession process 

  • what is a section 8 notice 

  • what are grounds for possession, including mandatory and discretionary grounds 

  • commonly used grounds for possession 

Who this session is for

You should have an understanding of what assured and assured shorthold tenancies are.

You might work as a generalist or housing adviser, or for a local authority. This session is also suitable if you don't specialise in housing but need to know the basics.

Length: 40 minutes

Level: Entry (Level 1)

Topic: Renting, Possession and eviction

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Introduction to section 21 notices

Introduction to section 21 notices

Get a basic introduction to section 21 notices for private sector tenants.

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • what is a section 21 notice

  • the key features of a section 21 notice

Who this session is for

You might be new to your role or new to this topic. This session doesn't require any prior knowledge.

Maybe you work for a local authority or as a housing or generalist adviser. This session is also suitable if you don't specialise in housing but need to know the basics for your role.

Length: 30 minutes

Level: Entry (Level 1)

Topic: Possession and eviction

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Keeping a rented home when in prison 

Keeping a rented home when in prison 

Find out when and how prisoners can keep a tenancy while in custody. 

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • common challenges faced by prisoners when they keep a tenancy 

  • financial considerations, including benefit payments 

  • practical ways a prisoner can keep their home 

Who this session is for

You might be new to your role or new to this topic. This session doesn't require any prior knowledge.

Maybe you work for a local authority or as a housing or generalist adviser. This session is also suitable if you don't specialise in housing but need to know the basics for your role.

Length: 30 minutes

Level: Entry (Level 1)

Topic: Possession and eviction

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Section 21 possession process

Section 21 possession process

Get an overview of the section 21 possession process..

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • three main stages in the section 21 process

  • a brief overview of what happens at each stage

Who this session is for

Local authority housing options staff including housing officers, homelessness officers and homeless prevention staff who are required to give advice on housing options enquiries.

Also suitable for voluntary agency advisers who provide housing advice and support.

Length: 15 minutes

Level: Entry (Level 1)

Topic: Possession and eviction

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The courts and case law: an overview

The courts and case law: an overview

Learn about the English system of case law and precedent in the courts.

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • what are the key principles of English law

  • what is court hierarchy and how precedence works

  • what are the different courts and areas of law

  • how to reference cases

Who this session is for

You might be new to your role or new to this topic. This session doesn't require any prior knowledge.

Maybe you work for a local authority or as a housing or generalist adviser. This session is also suitable if you don't specialise in housing but need to know the basics for your role.

Length: 40 minutes

Level: Entry (Level 1)

Topic: Possession and eviction

Join now

When a tenancy is binding on a landlord's mortgage lender

When a tenancy is binding on a landlord's mortgage lender

Learn how to identify when a tenancy is binding on the landlord's mortgage lender.

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • when a tenancy is binding on the landlord's mortgage lender

  • how a lender can repossess a property with tenants

  • whether the tenancy continues or ends when the lender takes possession

Who this session is for

You might be new to your role or new to this topic. This session doesn't require any prior knowledge.

Maybe you work for a local authority or as a housing or generalist adviser. This session is also suitable if you don't specialise in housing but need to know the basics.

Length: 15 minutes

Level: Entry (Level 1)

Topic: Possession and eviction

Join now

Fundamental (Level 2)

You'll need some prior knowledge for these courses.

Online elearning and webinars, available free to eligible organisations only.

Funded by the UK Government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Accelerated possession process – what happens?

Accelerated possession process – what happens?

Get an outline of the stages of the accelerated possession process, which may be used by landlords seeking possession following a s21 notice.

Recognising the validity of s21 notices is covered in other training resources: this session looks at how the application to court would proceed.

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • what the accelerated possession process is

  • the stages of the accelerated possession process

Who this session is for

You might be local authority housing options staff, a housing officer, homelessness officer or homeless prevention staff required to give advice on housing options enquiries.

Also suitable for voluntary agency advisers who provide housing advice and support.

Length: 25 minutes

Level: Fundamental (level 2)

Topic: Possession and eviction

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Applying to suspend a warrant

Applying to suspend a warrant

Learn about the process of suspending a warrant for people in rented accommodation and mortgaged properties.  

What this session covers

This elearning course includes:

  • when you can apply to suspend a warrant

  • how to apply to suspend a warrant  

  • what the possible outcomes of a hearing are 

Who this session is for

You're in a role where you advise people on housing and homelessness issues, or where you encounter enquiries about this topic.

You'll need some prior knowledge of the possession process for this course. You might work in housing options for a local authority, or be a housing caseworker for a voluntary agency.

Length: 60 minutes

Level: Fundamental (Level 2)

Topic: Possession and eviction

CPD points: 1

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Assured tenancies grounds for possession 

Assured tenancies grounds for possession 

Learn when a landlord can evict an assured or assured shorthold tenant using a mandatory or discretionary ground. 

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • what is an assured tenancy

  • what are grounds for possession 

  • what are mandatory and discretionary grounds 

Who this session is for

You're in a role where you advise people on housing and homelessness issues, or where you encounter enquiries about this topic.

You'll need some prior knowledge of the possession process for this session. You might work in housing options for a local authority, or be a housing caseworker for a voluntary agency.

Length: 40 minutes

Level: Fundamental (Level 2)

Topic: Possession and eviction

Join now

Changes to ending asylum housing 

Changes to ending asylum housing 

Learn about the changes to the way the Home Office can end asylum accommodation. 

Please note: since we recorded this session the Home Office announced it is returning to the previous timescale for ending asylum accommodation. You can still use this session to understand what the changes were but please be aware the information in the session is no longer current. 

What the session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • how the Home Office has changed the way it ends asylum accommodation 

  • who is affected, including people newly granted refugee status, humanitarian protection, or discretionary leave to remain after a claim for asylum 

  • the impact of the changes and suggestions on how to help 

Who this session is for

You're in a role where you advise people on housing and homelessness issues, or where you encounter enquiries about this topic.

You'll need some prior knowledge of asylum accommodation rules for this session. You might work in housing options for a local authority, or be a housing caseworker for a voluntary agency.

Length: 20 minutes

Level: Fundamental (Level 2)

Topic: Possession and eviction

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Gas safety requirements: is a section 21 notice valid?

Gas safety requirements: is a section 21 notice valid?

Learn about a landlord's obligations to comply with gas safety requirements and how this affects the validity of a section 21 notice.

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • what are a landlord's gas safety obligations and how these affect a section 21 notice

  • when a landlord must provide an energy performance certificate and How to Rent guide

  • the Court of Appeal case of Trecarrell v Rouncefield [2020]

Who this session is for

You're in a role where you advise people on housing and homelessness issues, or where you encounter enquiries about this topic.

You might work in housing options for a local authority, be a housing caseworker for a voluntary agency, or work with people who have been in prison.

Length: 30 minutes 

Level: Fundamental (Level 2)

Topic: Housing conditions

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Landlord harassment

Landlord harassment

Get an overview of landlord harassment and how to address it.

What this session covers

This elearning course includes:

  • what is landlord harassment, and how to recognise it

  • what options are available to people experiencing landlord harassment

Who this session is for

You're in a role where you advise people on housing and homelessness issues, or where you encounter enquiries about this topic. You'll need some prior knowledge of housing law for this session.

You might work in housing options for a local authority or be a housing caseworker for a voluntary agency.

Length: 45 minutes

Level: Fundamental (Level 2)

Topic: Renting

CPD points: 0.5

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Mortgage possession: helping tenants of landlords

Mortgage possession: helping tenants of landlords

Learn how to advise tenants of landlords who are facing possession action from their mortgage lender.

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • what to ask a tenant whose landlord is faced with repossession from their mortgage lender

  • how to identify an authorised or unauthorised tenant and what this means

  • how a tenancy can be ended

Who this session is for

You're in a role where you advise people on housing and homelessness issues, or where you encounter enquiries about this topic.

You'll need some prior knowledge of the possession process for this session.

You might work in housing options for a local authority, or be a housing caseworker for a voluntary agency.

Length: 60 minutes

Level: Fundamental (Level 2)

Topic: Possession and eviction

Join now

Secure tenancies grounds for possession

Secure tenancies grounds for possession

Get an introduction to the mandatory and discretionary grounds for possession for secure tenants.

What this session covers

This recorded session includes:

  • what is a secure tenancy

  • what are grounds for possession

  • the mandatory grounds for possession, including the absolute ground

  • the discretionary grounds for possession

Who this session is for

You're in a role where you advise people on housing and homelessness issues, or where you encounter enquiries about this topic.

You'll need some prior knowledge of security of tenure for this session. You might work in housing options for a local authority, or be a housing caseworker for a voluntary agency.

Length: 40 minutes

Level: Fundamental (Level 2)

Topic: Possession and eviction

Join now

Tenancy deposits during and after ASTs

Tenancy deposits during and after ASTs

Get an overview of the rules on tenancy deposits for assured shorthold tenancies.

What this session covers

This elearning course includes:

  • when and how a tenancy deposit should be protected

  • what happens if a tenancy deposit is not protected

  • how a tenant can challenge a landlord if their deposit is not protected

Who this session is for

You're in a role where you advise people on housing and homelessness issues, or where you encounter enquiries about this topic.

You might work in housing options for a local authority, or be a housing caseworker for a voluntary agency.

Length: 45 minutes

Level: Fundamental (Level 2)

Topic: Possession and eviction

CPD points: 0.5

Join now


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