Section 8 notice received. You have the right to stay.
Since 1 May 2026, no-fault evictions (Section 21) are abolished. Your landlord must now give a specific legal reason on a Section 8 notice — using the right form, the right notice period (4 months for sale or move-in, 4 weeks for rent grounds), and serving it properly. Most notices fail at least one of those three.
Ground 8 — Rent arrears (3+ months)
At least 3 months' (or 13 weeks') rent is unpaid both at the time of serving notice and at the date of the hearing — thresholds tightened by the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (up from 2 months / 8 weeks).
Ground 10 — Some rent arrears
Some rent was unpaid at the time of serving the notice and at the date of the hearing. Discretionary — court must consider whether it is reasonable to grant possession.
Ground 11 — Persistent late payment
Tenant has persistently delayed paying rent even where no arrears exist at the notice date. Discretionary.
Ground 14 — Nuisance, annoyance, or criminal conviction
Tenant or person residing in or visiting the property has caused nuisance, annoyance, or been convicted of a relevant offence. Discretionary.
Ground 1 / 1A — Landlord wants to move in or sell
Mandatory ground if all conditions are met: Ground 1 (landlord or close family member moving in) or Ground 1A (landlord selling the property). Each requires at least 4 months' written notice on the prescribed form (RRA 2025 — up from 2 months) and cannot be used inside the first 12 months of the tenancy.
Another ground / I'm not sure
The full list of Section 8 grounds was revised by the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
What ground is on your notice?
Select the Section 8 ground your landlord has cited.
Two quick notice checks
Is the notice on the prescribed Section 8 form?
Did you get at least
Procedural defects found
Knowing your defences is the first step — but the county court requires them in writing, on the correct form (
), filed before your hearing date. Judges form impressions quickly: which arguments to lead with, what evidence to attach, and how to frame your statement all depend on your specific facts and the ground your landlord is relying on.
Start My Claim builds your
written defence statement
— structured around your ground and your circumstances. Fixed fee — £229.
Section 8 notice received.
You have the right to stay.
no-fault evictions (Section 21) are abolished.
Your landlord must now give a specific legal reason on a Section 8 notice — using the right form, the right notice period (4 months for sale or move-in, 4 weeks for rent grounds), and serving it properly. Most notices fail at least one of those three.
— upload your notice and we’ll read it in seconds, listing every problem we find with the law that backs it up. If the notice has problems, we build your written defence for the court hearing.
notice for sale / move-in
notice for rent grounds
required notice form
Two ways to challenge
The notice may be defective. The ground may not be made out.
1. Procedural defects
The notice must be on the prescribed form, state the correct ground clearly, give the legally required notice period, and be served in the right way. Any failure here makes the notice invalid — the landlord cannot proceed to court on a defective notice.
2. The ground is not made out
Even where the notice is valid, the landlord must prove at court that the ground is established on the facts. For discretionary grounds, they must also show it is reasonable to grant possession given your full circumstances.
From notice received to court-ready defence.
Act as soon as the notice arrives. Time limits on responding to court proceedings are strict.
Tell us about your notice
Answer questions about the notice: which ground is cited, the dates, the notice period given, and the facts alleged. We check every procedural requirement.
We build your defence
The system generates your N11R defence form (the residential possession defence form), a written defence statement addressing the ground, and a checklist of supporting evidence — rent receipts, repair correspondence, medical evidence, etc.
Prepare for your hearing
A hearing preparation guide tells you what to bring, what to say when you arrive, how the hearing runs, and the questions the judge is likely to ask. You arrive ready.
What’s included at £229
Everything to defend your home in court.
Notice Validity Check
Full procedural audit of your Section 8 notice: form, ground, notice period, service method, and timing.
Written Defence Statement
A structured document addressing each element of the ground, your factual response, and (for discretionary grounds) why it is not reasonable to grant possession.
Tailored to your specific ground: what to gather, how to organise it, and what the court will expect to see.
N11R Defence Form Guide
Guidance on completing the county court residential possession defence form correctly — including the sections most people get wrong.
Hearing Preparation Guide
What to bring, what to say, how the hearing runs, what questions the judge will ask, and how to present yourself effectively as a litigant in person.
Plain-English analysis of the ground cited, whether it is mandatory or discretionary, the legal test the court applies, and your realistic prospects.
Simple, fixed pricing
Your home is worth defending properly.
£229 flat fee covers your notice check, written defence, evidence checklist, and full hearing preparation guide.
Possession Defence — per case
One-off · this case only
Fixed fee · No subscription
Possession defence FAQ
A notice is not the end. It is a process.
A Section 8 notice is the start of a legal process — not the end. You have the right to defend. Start My Claim prepares your defence for £229.
Fixed fee · Act before your court date
Respond to court papers immediately.
Once your landlord issues possession proceedings, you will receive an N5 claim form and a date for the hearing. You typically have 14 days to file a defence. Missing this deadline significantly weakens your position. Act as soon as papers arrive.
Section 21 transition:
Section 21 notices served before 1 May 2026 can still be enforced in court until 31 July 2026. After that date, landlords must use the new Section 8 grounds exclusively.
Not legal advice. Start My Claim is document-assembly software that helps you prepare your own possession defence. For complex situations, get a second opinion from a qualified housing solicitor or contact the free Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS).
Sources: Housing Act 1988, Schedule 2 (Section 8 grounds, as amended by Renters’ Rights Act 2025) · Renters’ Rights Act 2025, ss.1–20 · Civil Procedure Rules, Part 55 (Possession claims) · Pre-Action Protocol for Possession Claims based on rent arrears · Protection from Eviction Act 1977, s.1 · MHCLG: How to rent guide (2026 edition)