Landlords are you prepared and up to date?
Some private landlords may be aware of the new changes that have come into force following the passing of the Renters Rights Act. However, some may not.
One of the new changes following the Renters Rights Act is that the Section 21 notice with the intention to seek possession of a property is to be abolished from the 1st May 2026. Further changes will be that the fixed term Assured Shorthold Tenancies will be no more, and any tenancy will be changed to a periodic tenancy (AKA rolling tenancy).
What does this mean?
This means that should a private landlord seek to serve a Section 21 notice on or after the 1st May 2026, this will be invalid and the landlord will have to serve a Section 8 notice.
Changes
Even though the Section 8 notice is used on the mandatory grounds of rent arrears, meaning the tenant must be more than 3 months in arrears. With the new changes under the Renter Rights Act in order to start the intention to begin possession proceedings, the landlord will have to rely on the grounds that they need to move back into the said property, they have evidence to show that the landlord is genuinely selling the property or due to anti-social behaviour from the tenant which has been reported to the police and the landlord has documentation to support this.
If a landlord has served the Section 21 notice before the 1st May 2026, latest being the 30th April 2026 – the landlord must file the relevant possession proceedings on or before the 31st July 2026 in order to continue pre changes regarding the Section 21 notice.
Don’t let the deadline pass if you are thinking about serving a Section 21 notice.
Always remember that before any notice can be served, the landlord must have provided the tenant will all the prescribed information, which includes the How to rent booklet, DPS certificate (if a deposit was taken), EPC certificate, Electrical certificate and all of the gas safety checks are done, up to date and the tenant has been provided with each copy.
