As the Renters’ Rights Bill continues its progress through the House of Lords, landlords should be preparing for a much tighter framework around possession. One of the most significant changes proposed is the reform of Section 8, the legal route for regaining possession where a specific reason applies.

Section 21 is being abolished. In its place, Section 8 will become the standard mechanism for eviction, with new rules that introduce longer notice periods, stricter evidential requirements, and mandatory court involvement in most cases.

Understanding Section 8
Section 8 allows landlords to seek possession on either mandatory or discretionary grounds. Mandatory grounds include cases where the landlord intends to sell, move in, or where the tenant is in serious rent arrears. Discretionary grounds include antisocial behaviour, property damage, or other breaches of the tenancy agreement.

The proposed legislation does not remove these grounds but significantly changes the timelines and conditions around how and when they can be used.

Key changes landlords should prepare for
When the Bill becomes law, the notice period for common grounds such as sale or landlord occupation will increase to four months. Landlords will also face a new restriction: these grounds cannot be used within the first twelve months of a tenancy. This means a tenant is effectively protected from eviction for the first year, unless there is a serious breach of contract.