Inside LetCompliance
Section 21 is abolished: use Section 8 instead
Section 21 is gone. Section 8 is your route now.
Section 21 was abolished by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on 1 May 2026, so you can no longer serve a new Form 6A notice. Possession now runs through Section 8 grounds. LetCompliance checks your prerequisites, drafts your Section 8 notice by ground, and still produces a Form 6A for any notice you served before abolition that is working through the courts.
Prerequisite checklist
Deposit protection, prescribed information, Gas Safety, EPC and the written statement of terms, all verified before you can generate the notice.
Section 8 drafter (Form 6A for transition)
Drafts your Section 8 notice by ground, with notice periods and the earliest possession date calculated automatically. For notices served before 1 May 2026, it still outputs a Form 6A.
Service proof log
Log how you served the notice (in person, email, first-class post), timestamped. This is the evidence the court asks for.
What it does
- Validates 2-month minimum notice period
- Cross-checks deposit protection within 30 days of receipt
- Confirms prescribed information has been served
- Confirms the written statement of terms has been served
- Confirms valid Gas Safety Certificate served at/before tenancy start
- Confirms EPC band E or above served
- Drafts a Section 8 notice by ground (and a Form 6A for in-flight transition cases)
- Logs service proof with timestamp and method
Who it's for
Self-managing landlords who searched for Section 21 but now need a valid Section 8 notice, and want to avoid paying a solicitor £400–£800 per notice.
The legal basis
Section 21 Housing Act 1988 as amended; Form 6A prescribed by The Assured Tenancies and Agricultural Occupancies (Forms) (England) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/620). Abolished on 1 May 2026 by the Renters' Rights Act 2025; possession now runs through Section 8.
Guidance only, not legal advice. Always verify with your solicitor for contested matters.
FAQs
Can I still serve a Section 21 notice?
No. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026, so you cannot serve a new one. A Form 6A served before that date may still be working through the courts on its natural timeline; for new possession use Section 8. Always check current GOV.UK guidance.
What if the tenant challenges the notice?
The most common successful challenges are missing prescribed information, late deposit protection and missing Gas Safety Certificate. Our prerequisite checks reduce that risk substantially.
Does this replace legal advice?
No. For contested possessions or unusual circumstances, consult a solicitor. LetCompliance handles the compliance layer, not the litigation.
Related reading
📝 Free: Section 21 → Section 8 Transition Map (2026)
Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026. Map every active S21 / Form 6A scenario onto a valid Section 8 ground with this 2-page transition guide.
- Pre-1 May 2026 Form 6A — still valid? Decision tree
- Map every S21 trigger to a Section 8 mandatory / discretionary ground
- Ground 8 (rent arrears) — 13-week threshold under RRA 2025
- Top 5 evidence packs courts now expect for possession
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