The Renters Rights Act 2025 passed. Section 21 — the "no-fault eviction" notice — is gone.

Most landlords I speak to either don't fully understand what this means, or they've read a panicked headline and assumed the worst. The truth is somewhere in between.

What's actually changed:

Section 21 notices no longer exist. You can't serve one. If you want to regain possession of your property, you must now use Section 8 grounds — and those grounds have to be valid and provable.

The most commonly used Section 8 grounds:

• Ground 8: Rent arrears of 2+ months (mandatory — court must grant possession)

• Ground 14: Anti-social behaviour (discretionary)

• Ground 1A: Landlord wants to sell (new, 4 months notice required)

• Ground 1: Landlord or close family wants to move in (4 months notice)

What landlords are getting wrong:

1. Serving informal "notices to leave" that have no legal standing

2. Not documenting rent arrears properly from day one

3. Not realising Ground 8 is still powerful — but only if you've tracked everything

What you should be doing now:

• Review every tenancy and make sure rent due dates are clear

• Start a simple arrears log if you haven't already

• Understand which grounds apply before a problem starts, not during

The landlords who stay ahead of this will be fine. The ones who wing it will face expensive consequences.

If you're a UK landlord navigating this — that's exactly what PropertyGuard is here for.

Welcome — and well done for taking the first step in protecting what you've built.

Here's how to get the most out of your membership:

1. Members Chat — Jump in and introduce yourself. Tell us how many properties you have and what's your biggest headache right now.

1. Guides & Updates — In-depth guides, law updates, and tactical breakdowns. Watch this space — the legal landscape is changing fast.

1. Ask anything — No question is too basic. A wrong assumption about your rights can cost you thousands.

Key things to know right now:

• Section 21 has been abolished under the Renters Rights Act. You now need valid Section 8 grounds to regain possession.

• Rent increases must follow the prescribed process.

• EPCs are increasingly important for compliance.

We'll be covering all of this in detail. You're not alone — let's get to work.