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Ground 8 rent arrears calculator

Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, Ground 8 needs at least 3 months’ rent in arrears where rent is monthly, or 13 weeks’ rent where it is weekly — when the notice is served and at the hearing. The notice period is 4 weeks.

A long row of Victorian terraced houses
Rent is due
Ground 8 level: 3 months’ rent£3,600£1,200 short of the Ground 8 level
Notice period
4 weeks
At the hearing
The arrears must still be at the Ground 8 level. If they are not, Ground 8 fails; grounds 10 and 11, if named, leave it to the court.

Worked examples

  • Rent of £1,200 a month: the Ground 8 level is £3,600. Arrears of £2,400 are £1,200 short — two months is no longer enough.
  • Rent of £250 a week: the level is £3,250 (13 weeks). Arrears of £3,250 meet it.

Common mistakes

  • Using the old two-month figure. It changed on 1 May 2026.
  • Counting rent not yet due. Only rent that has fallen due and is unpaid counts.
  • A rent account that does not add up. The court will check every entry. Keep payments and corrections, not just the balance.
  • Relying on Ground 8 alone. Add grounds 10 and 11 so the court has something to decide if the arrears drop below the level.

What Abide.Rent does

Abide.Rent keeps a rent account for each tenancy, shows the day arrears reach the Ground 8 level, and puts the figures in the possession pack. Work out the notice period for several grounds with the Section 8 notice period calculator. Not legal advice.

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Renters’ Rights Act compliance checklist for letting agents

  • Twelve checks per property, with the law and penalty for each
  • Who is responsible at each service level
  • A monthly routine for the whole book
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Questions agents and landlords ask

How much arrears is needed for Ground 8?

From 1 May 2026, at least 3 months’ rent where rent is due monthly, or 13 weeks’ rent where it is due by the week. It was 2 months before the Renters’ Rights Act.

What notice does Ground 8 need?

4 weeks. Proceedings cannot begin before the notice period ends.

Do the arrears have to be at that level at the hearing?

Yes. Ground 8 needs the level both when the notice is served and at the hearing. If the tenant pays below it, the court can still consider the discretionary grounds 10 and 11.

Is Ground 8 mandatory?

Yes: if it is proved at both dates the court must make an order. The court still checks the notice, the figures and the evidence, so the rent account matters.

Not legal advice. England only. These tools apply the rules as we read them on 12 October 2026. Check the current guidance on gov.uk, and take advice from a housing solicitor on a specific case.

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