Home  /  Insights  /  Property Legal, Risk & Compliance
Property Legal, Risk & Compliance  

Section 21 Notices After May 2026: Why They No Longer Work

What replaced Section 21, and how to avoid invalid notices now.

Section 21 Notices After May 2026: Why They No Longer Work Property Legal, Risk & Compliance

Updated October 2026 · Fraser Bond

Possession · Notices

Section 21 is gone: what now?

Abolished1 May 2026
Section 8legal grounds
Validitystill matters
Evidencewins cases
In short: Section 21 "no-fault" eviction notices can no longer be used in England for notices served on or after 1 May 2026. Landlords now need a Section 8 notice based on a legal ground, such as selling, moving in, rent arrears or anti-social behaviour, and a court order. Many of the old reasons a Section 21 failed, such as an unprotected deposit or missing safety documents, still matter for compliance, fines and claims. A valid Section 8 notice must use the right form, ground and notice period. Fraser Bond helps landlords get this right.
Old Section 21 pitfallsWhy they still matter
Deposit not protectedPenalty of 1–3× the deposit
No gas safety recordCriminal offence and fines
No EPCFines; minimum E rating
Licensing breachesFines and rent repayment orders
Wrong form or datesInvalid Section 8 notices too

Compliance still counts

Before serving a Section 8 notice

Possession done properly

  • Advice on grounds and evidence
  • Full management to resolve issues early
  • Liaison with solicitors
  • Fast re-letting

Frequently asked questions

Can I still use Section 21?

Not for notices served on or after 1 May 2026.

What replaced it?

Section 8 grounds, such as sale, moving in or arrears.

Do I still need to protect deposits?

Yes, within 30 days.

Planning to regain possession?

Talk to our team.

Speak to our teamProperty management

Related guides

Next step

You are one message away from an answer.

If you have a question

Send it to us and get a straight answer.

Describe the property and the problem. We will tell you what we would do, what it should cost, and if we are not the right people, who is.

  • Replies the same working day
  • The person who answers is the person who handles it
  • No fee, and no obligation to instruct us
If you are looking for a property

See everything we are instructed on.

Sales and lettings across Prime Central London and the wider UK, with the same team behind every listing.

  • Residential and commercial in one search
  • Filter by borough, budget and size
  • Register once and we will send matches first