10 new eviction details landlords need to know

October is certainly shaping up to be a busy month for political announcements, with the Renters' Rights Bill passing its second reading in the House of Commons on the 9th October. At the end of the month – the 30th to be precise – Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her first Autumn Budget, and speculation is rife that inheritance tax and capital gains tax thresholds will be altered.

What links these two events is the lettings market. If Labour makes it increasingly inclement to be a small, private landlord, more will look to give notice and exit the market. The contents of both the Renters’ Rights Bill and the Autumn Budget will be hugely influential when decision making and landlords will have a narrow window of opportunity to decide their fate.

Much of the pressure is coming from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner. Although her wish to ban Section 21 notices as soon as Labour came to power was unfulfilled, she has said the party won’t wait for a court system reform to outlaw ‘no fault’ evictions.

In terms of timescales, the Government would like the contents of the Renters' Rights Bill passed into law by the summer of 2025. Behind much of the consternation are the changes to possession and the Bill’s second reading has given us more clarity on the proposals.

10 important eviction details to note include:

1. An immediate ban on Section 21 notices. This would cover existing and new tenancies as soon as the Act is adopted as law. There was, however, a small concession during the Bill’s second reading. The Housing Minister said the sector would need time ‘to adjust to a significant change in regulation’.
2. A court system that will be digitalised. This will happen concurrently alongside the ban on Section 21s, rather than sequentially.
3. A promise that landlords will still, legitimately, be able to regain their properties. This would include to move into themselves, to move a family member in, or to sell the property.
4. An overhaul of how and when legitimate possessions can happen. The changes pertain to when a landlord wants to move into the buy-to-let themselves, or move a family member in (Ground 1, amended) or when they want to sell the property (Ground 1A, a new ground). The new reforms stipulate that neither Ground 1 or 1A can be used within the first 12 months of the tenancy.
5. A new notice period for legitimate possession. If a landlord is using Ground 1 or 1A, they must give the tenant four months’ notice before beginning court proceedings.
6. A restriction on reletting and remarketing. If a landlord has regained possession using Ground 1 or 1A, they may not advertise for rent or re-let the property in the 12 months following the eviction.
7. Grounds 1 and 1A will be folded into the Section 8 notice. This notice will become the sole and exclusive way for landlords to regain possession.
8. Section 8 notices will still cover anything that breaches the terms of the tenancy agreement. This could be anti-social behaviour, criminal activity and severe rent arrears.
9. Many grounds and notice periods will alter. Of the 16 mandatory and discretionary grounds within Section 8, the Renters’ Rights Bill has amended 2, and 7 are brand new or have expanded grounds.
10. Ground 8 (rent arrears) has been amended. This is one of the most controversial amendments. If the Bill becomes law, landlords will only be able to start the eviction process if the arrears are greater than three months (up from two), and they must give a four week notice period (up from two).

The Renters’ Rights Bill Explanatory Notes document offers full clarification of what will be debated and scrutinised during the Bill’s committee stage but at 180 A4 pages long, not every landlord will have the stamina to plough through the small print.

Instead, Open Property Group is staying abreast of the Bill’s progress. Feel free to contact us with your questions, and for advice about exiting the private rental market before the Bill – or the contents of the Autumn Budget - become law. We offer quick cash sales for all buy-to-lets, including those with short leases, tenants in-situ and issues that qualify them as problem properties.