Free

Section 8 ground finder

Section 21 no-fault possession was abolished in England on 1 May 2026. Every possession claim now has to rest on a ground in Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988, and picking the wrong one — or the wrong notice period — is the most common reason a notice fails.

Tick what has actually happened. This tells you which grounds are available, which of them force the court's hand and which leave it a discretion, and how the notice period is calculated.

What has happened? Tick everything that applies.

The tenant owes serious rent arrearsBroadly three months' rent or moreThere are rent arrears, but below the serious thresholdThe tenant persistently pays late, even if up to date nowThe tenant has breached a term of the tenancyAnti-social behaviour or nuisanceI or a close family member need to move inI am selling the propertyI need the property back to redevelop it

Date you intend to serve the notice

Fill in the fields to see the result.

Please note

This covers assured tenancies in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate regimes. Grounds and notice periods under the Renters' Rights Act continue to change — verify the current position on GOV.UK before serving, and take advice if the case is contested. General information, not legal advice.