The End of Section 21 & New Section 8 Grounds: What Norwich Landlords Need to Know

Let us skip the legal jargon. With Section 21 "no-fault" evictions scrapped, here is exactly how the new Section 8 notice works for you, whether you are renting a family home in the Golden Triangle or letting out a student flat near the UEA.

No panic. No aggressive sales pitches. Just the facts, explained simply.

The Scrapping of Section 21

From 1 May 2026, Section 21 "no-fault" evictions are officially abolished in the private rented sector. The old rules still apply right now, but it is good to get prepared.

Under the new system, landlords can no longer ask a tenant to leave without a reason. Instead, if a private landlord needs a property back, they must rely entirely on a Section 8 notice. This requires a specific, legally defined reason (called a "ground") to end the tenancy. Crucially, a landlord cannot use any of these Section 8 grounds if they have not protected the tenant's deposit in a government-approved scheme. Fair is fair.

Section 8: Mandatory vs. Discretionary Grounds

The government has split the Section 8 reasons for ending a tenancy into two clear categories:

• Mandatory: If a landlord can prove this reason is true, the court has to agree and grant a possession order.
• Discretionary: The court looks at all the evidence and decides if asking the tenant to leave is reasonable and fair.

The Main Section 8 Grounds Explained

There are over two dozen specific grounds, but let us look at the most common situations for our local Norwich community.

Selling Up or Moving In

If a landlord wants to sell the property or needs to move themselves or a close family member in, they absolutely can.

• The Catch: You cannot ask a tenant to leave for these reasons during the first 12 months of a new tenancy. This gives renters much-needed stability.
• Notice Period: Landlords must give 4 months' notice.

Rent Arrears

Life happens, and sometimes people fall behind. The rules here are specific to protect both sides.

• Severe Arrears (Mandatory): If a tenant owes 3 months of rent (or 13 weeks if paying weekly), the landlord can give 4 weeks' notice. However, if the delay is simply because Universal Credit has not arrived yet, landlords cannot use this ground. Benefits do not count towards the total owed.
• Minor Arrears (Discretionary): If a smaller amount of rent is owed or payments are constantly late, a landlord can still give 4 weeks' notice. A court will then look at the situation and decide if eviction is the right step.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Nobody wants a nuisance neighbour.

• Severe Behaviour: If there is a criminal conviction or a breach of an anti-social behaviour order, landlords can apply to the court immediately without a waiting period.
• General Nuisance: For general anti-social behaviour in or near the property, landlords can also apply straight away. The court will wait at least 14 days from the notice date before making an order.

Student Homes

Norwich is a brilliant student city. If you rent a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) to full-time students, you can claim the property back for the next group of students at the end of the academic year. You just need to give 4 months' notice to ensure a smooth handover.

A Quick Summary

Change can feel daunting, but these updates are designed to make things clearer and fairer. Tenants get more security in their homes, and landlords still have transparent, legal routes to get their property back when they genuinely need to.