If you have been served with a notice from your landlord
Private tenants are usually entitled to a written notice to leave their homes. How much notice you get depends on the type of tenancy you have and the reason you are being evicted.
What you should do
If you have been served with a notice to leave your home by your landlord, you should:
- Find out your legal rights to remain as you may be able to stay in your home for an extended period of time after the notice has expired (this depends on the type of tenancy agreement you have). See our guidance on evictions
- Start to look for another home as soon as possible before the notice expires
Type of tenancy
From 1 May 2026, most people renting privately have an assured periodic tenancy.
Assured periodic tenancies:
- Run on a rolling basis (usually monthly)
- Do not have a fixed end date
- Continue until the tenant ends the tenancy or the landlord obtains a court order for possession
If you started renting your home before 1 May 2026, your tenancy may have previously been called an assured shorthold tenancy. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, these tenancies automatically became assured periodic tenancies. You do not need to sign a new agreement for this to happen.
Different rules may apply if you:
- Rent from a council or housing association
- Are a lodger living in your landlord’s home
- Live in certain types of supported or temporary accommodation
Lodger agreement
This is where you share accommodation with your landlord (for example, kitchen, bathroom). You have the legal status of an excluded occupier, and your landlord only has to give you reasonable notice to leave.
You can check other types of tenancy on Tenancy rights checker - Shelter England.
Notice and eviction process
A landlord cannot make you leave your home without following the correct legal process.
From 1 May 2026, the law changed so that:
- Landlords can no longer use section 21 ('no-fault') eviction notices for most private rented homes
- A landlord must have a valid legal reason to seek possession of the property
- Possession is normally sought using a section 8 notice, followed by an application to the court
A section 8 notice can only be used where the landlord relies on one or more specific legal grounds, such as rent arrears, anti social behaviour, or where the landlord needs to sell or live in the property. Some grounds are mandatory and others are discretionary, and different notice periods apply depending on the reason used.
Being served with a notice does not mean you must leave immediately.
In most cases:
- You can remain in your home until a court has considered the case and made a possession order
- Only a court bailiff or enforcement officer can lawfully evict you
See guidance on the legal grounds a landlord must use for a section 8 notice (GOV.UK).
Section 21 notices served before 1 May 2026
Some landlords served section 21 notices before the law changed. These notices may still be acted on for a limited period.
If your landlord served a valid section 21 notice on or before 30 April 2026, they may still apply to the court to end the tenancy. However:
- Court proceedings must be started by 31 July 2026
- After that date, section 21 can no longer be used to regain possession
If court action is not started by 31 July 2026, the notice can no longer be relied upon.
If you have been served with any notice and are unsure whether it is valid, or if you are at risk of losing your home, you should seek advice as soon as possible.
Possession order from the courts
If you stay in the property after your two months notice has ended, your landlord must apply to court for a possession order to get the property back. Your landlord cannot evict you themselves; they must apply to the court.
Where a S.8 S.21 notice is valid your landlord will usually be granted an order by the court. Where it is not valid, you can challenge the eviction.
Bailiff warrant
A possession order will state a date for you to leave. If you stay beyond this date, your landlord can ask the court to send a bailiff to evict you. The court will send you a letter to let you know that the bailiffs are coming. Your landlord cannot evict you themselves. Bailiffs can remove you and your belongings from the property but must not use force.
For more information about evicting tenants see:
- GOV.UK
- Shelter
- Citizens Advice 020 8712 7800
Or contact Wandsworth housing options for advice.
Finding a new home
If you have been asked to leave by your landlord, most people will look for a new home to rent privately themselves. You are strongly urged to read these pages to help you find a new home.