Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Ending private sector assured tenancies in England after the Renters’ Rights Act 2025: abolition of section 21, section 8 grounds, notices, possession proceedings and enforcement from 1 May 2026

Published by a LexisNexis Property Disputes expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note

This Practice Note outlines the routes available to landlords and tenants to bring a private sector assured tenancy (AT) in England to an end once the relevant provisions of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (RRA 2025) are in force. It concentrates on landlord actions under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 (HA 1988), in light of the repeal of section 21 for private landlords from 1 May 2026, the rules on serving a notice seeking possession, the possession claim process and, where necessary, enforcing any possession order. For a summary of RRA 2025, see Practice Note: Renters’ Rights Act 2025—key provisions. For advice on bringing assured and assured shorthold tenancies to an end before 1 May 2026 (or after that date in the social sector), see Practice Note: Terminating assured and assured shorthold tenancies—pre-Renters’ Rights Act position. For details on granting ATs, including when a tenancy is assured, see Practice Note: Assured and assured shorthold tenancies—granting. In Wales, ATs and assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) were replaced by occupation contracts from 1 December 2022, under the Renting Homes (Homes) Wales Act 2016 (RH(W)A 2016). Existing ATs and ASTs became converted...

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Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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