What is a Section 8 notice?

This guidance applies to England unless stated otherwise. A Section 8 notice is a formal notice seeking possession under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988. The landlord must rely on one or more of the grounds for possession in Schedule 2 of the Act. Since Section 21 "no-fault" evictions were abolished on 1 May 2026, Section 8 is the main way a landlord can lawfully end a private tenancy. The grounds fall into two categories: mandatory grounds, where the court must grant possession if the ground is proven, and discretionary grounds, where the court decides whether it is reasonable to grant possession. They include rent arrears (for example Ground 8), anti-social behaviour (Ground 14), and grounds for a landlord who wishes to sell (Ground 1A) or move into the property (Ground 1). The notice must be in the prescribed form, state which grounds are relied on, and give the notice period required for each ground. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 changed several grounds and notice periods from 1 May 2026, so it is important to check the current rules for the ground being used. If the tenant does not leave when the notice expires, the landlord must apply to the court for a possession order. Procedural errors, such as missing grounds or a wrongly calculated notice period, can make the notice invalid. This information is general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.