Ready for the Renters’ Rights Act. Free for a month — no card.
Abide.Rent
Free tool for tenants, no sign-up

Is my Section 8 notice valid?

From 1 May 2026, a Section 8 notice must give the notice period for the grounds it names — from none (Grounds 7A and 14) to four months (Grounds 1, 1A and 6). Your landlord cannot start a court claim before that period ends, and you do not have to leave until a court orders it.

Tenant reading her tenancy papers at home
Grounds named in the notice
Needed to check Grounds 1 and 1A, which cannot be used in the first 12 months.

Tick at least one ground and enter the date the notice was given to you.

Minimum notice for the common grounds

GroundWhat it coversNoticeType
1Landlord or family moving in4 monthsMandatory
1ALandlord selling4 monthsMandatory
6Redevelopment4 monthsMandatory
7ASerious anti-social behaviour or convictionThe day of serviceMandatory
8Serious rent arrears4 weeksMandatory
10Some rent arrears4 weeksDiscretionary
11Persistent late payment of rent4 weeksDiscretionary
12Breach of a tenancy term2 weeksDiscretionary
13Deterioration of the property2 weeksDiscretionary
14Nuisance or anti-social behaviourThe day of serviceDiscretionary
17Tenancy obtained by a false statement2 weeksDiscretionary

Other grounds exist for particular landlords and tenancies. A notice can also fail for other reasons — the wrong form, missing details, or a ground that does not apply. This checker reads the dates only.

Get advice early

Shelter’s housing advisers can look at your notice. Councils must help if you are at risk of homelessness within 8 weeks, so contact yours as soon as you get a notice.

Landlords and agents: the Section 8 notice period calculator works the same dates from the other side. Not legal advice.

Questions tenants ask

Do I have to leave on the date in the notice?

No. A Section 8 notice is the landlord’s warning that they may go to court. Your tenancy carries on until a court makes an order, and only a court bailiff can evict you.

Can my landlord still use Section 21?

No. Section 21 ended for tenancies in England on 1 May 2026. A landlord now needs a Section 8 ground.

Can I be evicted for selling or moving in during my first year?

Grounds 1 (landlord or family moving in) and 1A (selling) cannot be relied on if the earliest date for court proceedings falls in the first 12 months of the tenancy. They need four months’ notice.

What if my landlord is not on the PRS Database?

Once registration is required in your region, a landlord who is not registered cannot get a possession order except on Grounds 7A or 14. The register opens region by region from 15 December 2026.

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.

Abide.Rent keeps this record for you: when your landlord or agent uses it, your notices and safety records sit in a free tenant login.