Housing Act 1988 – Section 8 evictions
Section 8 outlines several grounds that are prerequisites for a landlord to obtain a court possession order. Section 8 notices are, in essence, eviction notices. These are planned to be strengthened under the new rules as Section 21 notices disappear.
What are the new grounds for possession under Section 8?
Under the new Renters' Rights Bill, landlords can still evict tenants using Section 8 grounds for possession. Landlords can issue this and give notice between two weeks and two months, depending on which terms the tenant has broken. Section 8 requires a landlord to serve a notice only if a tenant has done something wrong, which can often be rent arrears or a breach of the tenancy agreement. Court proceedings usually precede the final outcome, which can be either for or against the landlord.
New grounds for possession under the Renters' Rights Bill:
Ground 1 — landlord intends to move in for landlord's family intends to move in
Ground 1A — landlord intends to sell
Ground 2 — repossession by mortgage provider
Ground 2ZA, 2ZB, 2ZC & 2ZD — issues with superior lease
Ground 4 — student accommodation
Ground 4A — student HMO
Ground 5, 5A & 5C — employment-related reasons
Ground 6 — redevelopment of property (including remodelling or demolition)
Ground 6A — enforcement action against landlord
Amended grounds for possession:
Ground 7A & 14 — anti-social behaviour (reduced notice period and amended factors of what counts as ASB)
Ground 8, 10 & 11 — tenants in rent arrears (increased notice periods)
Find out more about the grounds for possession in our Section 8 Explainer Guide.