New regulations came into force on 1 October 2021 for England that will return notice periods for Section 21 and Section 8 notices to their pre-pandemic levels. The UK Government, does however, retain the power to re-introduce longer notice periods as an emergency measure until 25 March 2022.
Notice periods
- Since 1 June 2021, most possession notices have required the landlord to give a minimum of four months’ notice if they serve either a Section 21 or a Section 8 Notice.
- From 1 June 2021, landlords have been required to serve four months’ notice (either a Section 21 or a Section 8 Notice) in all but the most serious cases.
- Additionally, from 1 August 2021, notice periods in cases of ‘non-serious’ rent arrears (less than four months’ rent is due) reduced to two months’ notice.
From 1 October 2021, the notice period required for Section 21 notices will be two months and Section 8 notices will revert back to only two weeks, based on rent arrears grounds 8, 10 and 11.
Any notices served before 1 October 2021 will still need to comply with the current rules so will typically require four months’ notice.
