Accelerated Possession
A fast-track court procedure used under a Section 21 notice in England and Wales. Abolished for new claims from 1 May 2026 because Section 21 no longer exists. Possession is now pursued under Section 8 using a specified ground.
At a glance
- Status
- Abolished for new claims from 1 May 2026
- Previous use
- Section 21 paper-only possession
- Replaced by
- Section 8 with a specified ground
- Law
- Housing Act 1988 + RRA 2025
Full guide
Read the complete landlord guide on Accelerated Possession
Deadlines, fines and step-by-step compliance in our in-depth resource.
Open full guideWhy Accelerated Possession matters for landlords
Any landlord who issued a Section 21 before 1 May 2026 could pursue possession via the accelerated paper procedure without attending a court hearing — fast, predictable and well-suited to arrears and end-of-tenancy cases. Since the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 abolished Section 21 in England, this route is closed for new claims. Possession now follows the Section 8 ground procedure, which is more evidence-driven and usually involves a hearing, so landlords need much stronger documentation before serving notice.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Evicting tenants in England
- legislation.gov.uk — Renters’ Rights Act 2025
- legislation.gov.uk — Housing Act 1988
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
Section 21 Notice
The no-fault eviction notice under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. Abolished for new notices from 1 May 2026 under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Landlords must now use Section 8 with a specified ground.
Arrears (Rent Arrears)
Unpaid rent that is past its due date. Ground 8 of Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988 (mandatory) requires at least 3 months of rent arrears under the Renters Rights Act 2025 (previously 2 months). Grounds 10 and 11 remain as discretionary grounds.
AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy)
The most common form of private tenancy in England. From 1 May 2026 all existing ASTs converted to assured periodic tenancies under the Renters Rights Act 2025, and new fixed-term ASTs can no longer be created for most residential lets.
Awaab's Law
Provisions extending to the private rented sector under the Renters Rights Act 2025 that set strict timescales for landlords to investigate and remedy hazards such as damp and mould. Named after Awaab Ishak. Breach can lead to tenant compensation and enforcement by the local housing authority.
Break Clause
A clause in a fixed-term tenancy that allows landlord or tenant to end the agreement early. With fixed-term ASTs abolished from 1 May 2026 for most residential tenancies, break clauses are rarely relevant, a tenant can instead end a periodic tenancy with two months' notice.
BTL (Buy-to-Let)
A mortgage product and business model where a property is purchased specifically to rent out. Buy-to-let landlords are subject to Section 24 of the Finance Act 2015, which replaced mortgage interest relief with a 20% tax credit. Stamp duty is higher on a second property.