Council and housing association evictions

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The court hearing

Your council or housing association will need permission from a court to evict you.

You’ll get papers confirming the date of the hearing. At the hearing you have the chance to tell your side of the story.

The court can:

  • issue a possession order giving the council or housing association permission to evict you
  • decide evicting you is not justified - eviction proceedings will then stop
  • issue a suspended or postponed possession order giving you a final chance to avoid eviction

After the hearing

The possession order will state the date you must leave the property by. If you do not leave, your council or housing association can ask the court to send a bailiff to remove you and your belongings. The court will tell you the date they’ll arrive.

In certain situations, your local council may offer you temporary housing to give you a chance to find another property. While it’s looking into your case, the council may offer you emergency accommodation (such as a hostel or B&B). Shelter has an emergency housing rights checker tool that shows whether you may be entitled to this.