Section 8 Notice

Contents

Overview

You may be served with a section 8 Notice under the Housing Act 1988 as a tenant if you have been persistently late with rent, and owe more than two months' rent, or you have breached the tenancy in another way. Your landlord must use Form 3 and the correct statutory grounds with the notice and the correct prescribed forms otherwise a court is unlikely to grant possession. 


If you are facing imminent eviction, you may be able to apply for the government standard breathing space scheme to pause the eviction for 60 days.

What is a Section 8 Notice?

A Section 8 notice is a warning from your landlord that they are seeking possession of their property due to a change of its use or you have breached your tenancy agreement.


Although a Section 8 notice asks you to vacate the property, you won’t need to do so immediately as there will be a notice period. If the notice period expires and you do not leave the property, the landlord can start a possession claim through the courts to evict you.


For a Section 8 notice to be valid, it needs to include the reason for the eviction (known as ‘grounds for possession’), plus supporting evidence where possible.

Checking a Section 8 Notice is valid

To issue a valid Section 8 notice, your landlord must use the latest version of “Form 3” from the government website. The form must include the details of the tenancy, the grounds for eviction, plus the length of the notice period.


Grounds


A Section 8 notice can have multiple grounds for eviction, including a mix of mandatory and discretionary reasons. Depending on what it says in the tenancy agreement, the eviction notice could be delivered in person, put through the letterbox, or sent by post.


Notice Period


Landlords can give between 2 weeks’ and 2 months’ notice depending on which terms they’ve broken.


Correct Details


The tenant's personal details and the address of the property must be correctly stated.


Any challenge you raise based on the notice not being completed properly will only be a temporary solution as the form is likely to be resubmitted soon afterwards.

Mandatory Grounds

Mandatory grounds where the Court must grant Possession

Discretionary Grounds

Discretionary grounds where the Court may grant possession:










Eviction following a Section 8 Notice

If you do not leave the property by the date given, your landlord can issue a possession claim. There is currently a £355 court fee that you will need to pay back to your landlord.


Possession claims before 3 August 2020


If your landlord issued a possession claim before 3 August 2020, they may need to complete and submit an N244 to continue the claim. This can add further court costs to the claim.


A landlord does not have to submit an N244 if:


Urgent Help - Section 8 Notice

If you are facing eviction, you should get urgent help from a specialist housing and or debt adviser to run through your options. Your actions are important to prevent being considered as intentionally homeless by your local authority.


You may benefit from being added to the government's standard breathing space scheme to pause the eviction process. Only a qualified debt adviser can add you to this scheme.


Money Advice Hub


If you are a London & Quadrant Housing Trust Tenant and have been referred to us through the Pound Advice Service, we are funded to provide you with housing and debt advice combined. Please use out contacts page to get in touch.


King's Lynn and West Norfolk Residents


If you are a King's Lynn and West Norfolk Resident, the Borough Council commissioned Money Advice Hub to provide debt advice and income maximisation advice and Shelter to provide housing advice. If you need help with financial difficulties and need to consider the government's breathing space scheme's, please visit our contacts page to get in touch. If your contact is urgent, please email us at help@moneyadvicehub.email and add URGENT to the email subject. If you need housing advice, you must contact Shelter.


Other Advice Agencies


You can search for a local adviser by using the free online Advice Local Tool.


If you are near a local Law Centre, you may be able to get help there. Law Centres can usually provide advice under legal aid if you are eligible.


You can also use the government's 'Find a Solicitor' online tool to find a housing solicitor, if you qualify for legal aid you need to check that the solicitor works under legal aid.


Local Authority Homelessness Prevention Team


You should contact your local authority homelessness prevention team if you there is a risk you will be evicted. Depending on your household circumstances, they can sometimes negotiate with landlords directly to help you remain in your property, or look at downsizing options for affordable housing. You will be assessed by your local authority to check whether they have a duty to rehouse you or offer temporary accommodation.


You can find your local authority here.

Form 3 Notes

Notes_to_form_3.pdf