If you have been served with a notice to leave your home by your landlord you may have legal rights to remain for an extended period of time after the notice has expired. However, this does depend on the type of agreement you have with your landlord.
You can check the type of tenancy you have using the Shelter tenancy rights checker. Written tenancy agreements do not always reflect the tenancy rights you have, so it is important that you use the tenancy checker to be clear.
You're a tenant if you:
- are the only person with a right to enter the room or property you are renting and can prevent others from entering it
- are required to pay rent for your room or property
- have a right to remain in the property for a set period of time, for example, you are required to pay your rent at regular intervals.
You will normally be issued with an assured shorthold tenancy. This is the most common tenancy used in the private rented sector.
Assured shorthold tenancy eviction process
Your landlord can evict you either:
- during your fixed term agreement only if you have breached your tenant responsibilities. You will be served with a Section 8 notice and the case will be heard in court
- at the end of your fixed term agreement and your landlord must follow a three-step process.
If your landlord asks you to leave at the end of your fixed term agreement, the three-step process is as follows:
- They must serve you with a valid two month notice – this is called a Section 21 Notice.
- If you remain in the property after the expiry of the Section 21 Notice your landlord needs to apply to the court for an order for possession.
- If you remain in the property after the expiry of the order for possession, your landlord needs to apply for a bailiff warrant or High Court writ of possession to evict you.
You are within your rights to remain in the property until the bailiff warrant or writ is enforced.
See more information on GOV.UK about the eviction process for assured shorthold tenants.
Ask us for advice
If you're threatened with eviction and need advice, complete our online housing advice form: