A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE NEW RENTERS RIGHTS ACT 2025!
From the 1st of May 2026 obtaining Vacant Possession will in many cases become slower, more complex and reliant on Judicial Discretion.
From the 1st of May 2026 the act abolishes Section 21 No Fault Eviction Notices and revises Section 8 Grounds for Possession.
A Section 21 Notice remains until it disappears on the 1st of May 2026. The only route that does not require the Landlord to prove any breach by the Tenant until the 1st of May 2026, it remains an essential tool to secure possession.
The Section 21 Notice served before the 1st of May 2026 remains valid for its standard lifespan of six months, provided the Landlord asks the court to issue a Claim Form no later than the 31st of July 2026 or before the notice expires.
The window is not just narrow, it is unforgiving.
Once Section 21 is abolished, Landlords will rely entirely on Section 8 to regain possession. The Court will be required, if necessary, to determine if possession is reasonable in many circumstances.
For a mandatory case such as Selling a Property, the Landlord will have to serve at least Four months’ notice.
For Landlords considering their options, prompt and informed action now may prevent years of restricted manoeuvre later!