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Under the Housing Act 1988, landlords have been able to issue a Section 21 notice to evict a tenant without providing a reason. This is known as a "no-fault" eviction, and is often used when a landlord wishes to sell the property or move in themselves.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will see the abolition of Section 21, meaning that landlords can still regain possession of a property for a range of reasons, including the above, but the process will now require them to state specific grounds for possession.
Key takeaways
What you need to know
The end of Section 21
Under the new legislation, Section 21 will be abolished entirely, with new legal grounds introduced so that landlords must cite their reasons for evicting a tenant.
Under the new rules
New grounds for possession
To balance the removal of Section 21, the Renters’ Rights Bill strengthens and expands Section 8 of the Housing Act, as well as outlining specific legal grounds for possession. Each ground comes with its own notice period and evidentiary requirements, ensuring that possession claims are fair and justified.
Grounds for possession will include
Protections for tenants
The new framework will still protect landlords’ rights to regain possession of their property, but is also designed to prevent misuse of possession powers.
What this means
What landlords need to do
Landlords will need to maintain open communication with tenants and document any issues early, as this will support any future possession claims.
To prepare for the changes