Why it matters
What Notice Period means for a landlord
The ground you rely on sets the earliest date you can go to court, so it shapes the whole timetable. Selling or moving back in needs four months, serious arrears four weeks, and the antisocial behaviour grounds 7A and 14 can go to court straight away. Check the period for every ground you name, and allow for how the notice is delivered, because a notice that gives too little time can fail and the wait starts again.
Worked example
How it plays out
Chloe wants to sell her flat in Brighton and serves notice on Ground 1A on 3 June 2026 by first class post. She allows a few days for delivery before counting four months and gives a date in October as the earliest date for proceedings. A friend who used the old two-month period for a sale served a notice that was too short and had to start again, losing two months.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Using the old two-month period for a sale or moving-in ground.
- 02Counting from the day of posting without allowing for delivery.
- 03Assuming every ground has the same notice period.
- 04Forgetting that a tenant ends the tenancy with two months’ notice.
What to do
A short checklist
- Look up the notice period for each ground before drafting.
- Allow extra days for the delivery method.
- Record how and when the notice was served.
- Diary the earliest date you can start proceedings.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 16 September 2026. A guide to the rules in England, not legal advice: for a dispute or a possession claim, speak to a solicitor.
