Guides › Rent and Deposits › Landlord Served a Section 21 Notice: What Now?
Landlord Served A Section 21 Notice: What Now?
Landlords in England cannot serve a section 21 notice on or after 1 May 2026, even if your tenancy agreement says they can. Assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies, so your tenancy did not end. To get you out, a landlord needs a legal ground, a section 8 notice and, if you stay, a court order.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
What Changed on 1 May 2026
Section 21
Landlords cannot serve a section 21 ("no-fault") notice on or after 1 May 2026, even if the tenancy agreement says they can. Assured Shorthold Tenancies were abolished and existing ones became Assured Periodic Tenancies. Your tenancy does not end because of this. The new rules apply even if the tenancy agreement has not been updated. source
Rolling Tenancies
All assured tenancies, including assured shorthold tenancies, became rolling tenancies. Any end date in the agreement no longer applies, and tenants did not need to take any action. source
What Your Landlord Must Do Instead
Section 8
A landlord needs a legal ground and must prove it in court before a possession order is granted. They must use a section 8 notice that states the ground, a leave-by date and the notice period for that ground. source
If You Stay
Landlords cannot remove you by force. After the notice period ends the landlord can apply to court for a possession order, and you can explain at a hearing why you disagree. Harassment or illegal eviction is a criminal offence. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 1 May 2026Section 21 ended in EnglandNew and existing tenancies
- 2 monthsNotice you give to leaveEnding on a rent day or the day before
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check the date on the notice. A section 21 notice served on or after 1 May 2026 is not valid.
Step 2 of 5
Keep the notice and the envelope or email it came in.
Step 3 of 5
Do not move out just because of the notice: you can leave later, giving 2 months' notice.
Step 4 of 5
Get free advice straight away from Shelter or Citizens Advice.
Step 5 of 5
If a landlord changes the locks or removes your things, contact the council and the police.
(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.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules for renting.
This page is information, not legal advice. Notices served before 1 May 2026 follow different rules: check with Shelter or Citizens Advice.
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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
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bc04b8f7b1c24d8e23ce60/The_Renters__Rights_Act_Information_Sheet_2026.pdf Checked 14 October 2026
- gov.uk/assured-periodic-tenancies-tenants Checked 14 October 2026
- gov.uk/assured-periodic-tenancies-tenants/if-your-landlords-wants-to-end-your-tenancy 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