The end of new section 21 notices changed how private landlords in England approach possession. It did not remove the need for a valid legal process or create an automatic right to remove a tenant. This guide was reviewed on 15 October 2026.
Identify the applicable route
Since 1 May 2026, landlords within the new system must use the section 8 process with an applicable possession ground. Official guidance requires the appropriate form, correct notice period and an explanation of why the ground applies. Notices served before May have separate transitional rules.
The ground must match the actual facts. A convenient label is not a substitute for evidence, and different grounds have different conditions.
Prepare the evidence before the notice
Our practical recommendation is to create a chronology and identify the documents supporting each relevant fact. Keep the tenancy, communications and any financial records together, without changing the originals.
Ask an adviser to check the proposed route where the position is uncertain. A form completed accurately on its face can still be inappropriate if the underlying ground does not apply to the circumstances.
Distinguish notice from possession
If the tenant remains after the notice expires, the landlord normally needs to seek a court possession order. The notice itself is not authority to change the locks or remove the occupier.
Keep the next procedural step and its deadline clear. Avoid making promises about a guaranteed possession date, because the actual case and court process determine the outcome. This revised archive article replaces pre-commencement predictions with a practical explanation of the current route, while preserving its original publication date.
Source: GOV.UK possession guidance for notices after 1 May 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.