My landlord gave me a Section 21 notice in June 2026. Do I have to leave?

No. Section 21 was abolished for private tenancies in England on 1 May 2026, so a notice served after that date cannot be used to get a possession order. Keep paying rent, keep the notice and proof of when it arrived, and report it to your council's private sector housing team.

My Section 21 notice was served in March 2026. Is it still valid?

Only if your landlord issued a possession claim at court by 31 July 2026, or within six months of serving the notice if that was earlier. If no claim was issued in time, the notice has lapsed. If a claim was issued, you should have received court papers, and the case can continue.

Can the council fine my landlord for serving a Section 21 notice?

Councils can fine a landlord up to £7,000 under section 16I of the Housing Act 1988 for the conduct listed in section 16E, which includes serving a purported notice of possession. Gateshead Council fined a landlord £3,600 for serving a Section 21 notice after 1 May 2026. The council decides whether to act and how much to fine.

Does a Section 21 notice now just count as a Section 8 notice?

No. A Section 8 notice must be on Form 3A, or a form substantially to the like effect, name a ground for possession and give the notice period that ground requires. A Section 21 notice does none of that.

My landlord says they are selling. Can they make me leave?

They can serve a Section 8 notice on Ground 1A, but it needs 4 months' notice and cannot expire in the first 12 months of the tenancy. If you stay, they still need a court order. If the property is then re-let or marketed for rent during the restricted period, tell the council.

Does this apply in Wales or Scotland?

No. This guide covers private tenancies in England. Wales replaced Section 21 with its own rules under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems.

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My Landlord Has Given Me a Section 21 Notice Since 1 May. Do I Have to Leave?

Section 21 was abolished in England on 1 May 2026. What a Section 21 notice is worth now, the 31 July deadline, the first council fine, a…