Guides › Rent and Deposits › Rent Arrears and a Possession Notice: What Happens
Rent Arrears and A Possession Notice: What Happens
If you fall behind with rent, your landlord can serve a section 8 notice. Under the government guide, the mandatory arrears ground applies at 3 months' arrears and needs 4 weeks' notice, and any arrears can be used as a discretionary ground. Your landlord still needs a court order to remove you. Get advice early.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Arrears Grounds
Notice and Thresholds
Ground 8 (mandatory) needs at least 3 months' arrears, or 13 weeks if paid weekly or fortnightly, with 4 weeks' notice. Ground 10 (any arrears) and Ground 11 (persistent late payment) are discretionary and also need 4 weeks' notice. The mandatory threshold rose from 2 to 3 months. source
Roadmap
Possession grounds were reformed from 1 May 2026, with extended grounds for serious persistent rent arrears. source
Before Court
Court
Landlords cannot remove you by force. After the notice period ends they can apply to court for a possession order and you can explain at a hearing why you disagree. Free advice is available through the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service, before court and on the hearing day. source
Rent and Repairs
Rent should continue to be paid while repairs are awaited, and the official HHSRS guide advises against withholding rent because of disrepair, as it may put you at risk of eviction. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 4 weeksNotice for arrears groundsPer the government guide to the Act
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Do not ignore the notice: reply and engage with the landlord.
Step 2 of 5
Get free debt and housing advice straight away.
Step 3 of 5
Check your rent record and any housing benefit or Universal Credit housing element payments.
Step 4 of 5
Ask the council about help with housing costs.
Step 5 of 5
Go to the court hearing and take your evidence.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Citizens Advice
Free advice on any renting problem.
Your Local Council
Housing or environmental health team. It can act on landlord breaches.
MoneyHelper
Free, impartial money guidance.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
If a repair problem is behind the arrears, report the repair in writing but do not stop paying rent.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules for renting.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 14 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-renters-rights-act/guide-to-the-renters-rights-act Checked 14 October 2026
- gov.uk/government/publications/renters-rights-act-2025-implementation-roadmap/implementing-the-renters-rights-act-2025-our-roadmap-for-reforming-the-private-rented-sector Checked 14 October 2026
- gov.uk/assured-periodic-tenancies-tenants/if-your-landlords-wants-to-end-your-tenancy Checked 14 October 2026
- gov.uk/private-renting/repairs Checked 14 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026
- moneyhelper.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026