Guidance

Grounds for possession: guidance for tenants

Published 7 April 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grounds-for-possession-tenant-guidance/grounds-for-possession-guidance-for-tenants

If your landlord wants to end your assured periodic tenancy, from 1 May 2026 they will need to give you a reason for evicting you when they ask you to leave. These reasons are called grounds for possession.

Landlords will have to use the correct forms and give you the correct amount of notice. This is usually 4 months but it can be shorter for some grounds. 

From 1 May 2026 you can no longer be evicted using the ‘no fault’ section 21 process, even if your tenancy agreement says you can.

If the court process was started before 1 May 2026, in some cases it can be completed after that date. 

Some of the reasons that your landlord can legally use to evict you from 1 May 2026 are listed below:

  • if your landlord needs to sell or move into the property. They will not be able to evict you for this reason within the first 12 months of the tenancy
  • if you are a student, your landlord may be able to use the ground for student houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) to evict you if you do not move out at the end of the academic year
  • if you have not paid your rent on time
  • if you, others living with you, or visitors commit antisocial behaviour in or near the property

We will be publishing full guidance soon on all the grounds or reasons your landlord can give you to end your tenancy.

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