How much notice must a landlord give to sell a property under the Renters' Rights Bill?

Under Ground 1A of the amended Housing Act 1988, a landlord who intends to sell the property must give at least 4 clear calendar months' statutory notice. Crucially, Ground 1A cannot be served during the first 12 months of the tenancy (the protected period). Additionally, the landlord cannot re-let or market the property for rent for 12 months following vacation, backed by local authority civil penalties up to £7,000.

Can landlords still use Section 21 'no-fault' evictions?

No. The Renters' Rights Bill completely abolishes Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 in England. Landlords can only regain possession if they establish one of the statutory grounds under Section 8 (e.g. Ground 1 for landlord/family moving in, Ground 1A for selling, or Ground 8 for serious rent arrears of at least 3 months).

What are the new rules for Section 13 rent increases?

Automatic contractual rent review clauses are banned. Landlords can only increase rent once per year by serving an official statutory Section 13 Form 4 notice giving at least 2 clear months' notice (up from 1 month). Landlords cannot backdate rent increases, and rent bidding wars (accepting or inviting offers above the advertised price) are prohibited.

What happens if a tenant challenges a rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal?

Under the Renters' Rights Bill, the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) will determine the open market rent. The tribunal is legally prohibited from setting a rent higher than what the landlord originally proposed in the Section 13 notice. The new rent only becomes payable from the date of the tribunal's determination (or later in cases of undue hardship).

How long does it take to evict a tenant through County Court?

According to official Ministry of Justice (MoJ) possession statistics, median times from issuing a court possession claim to obtaining a possession order range from 13 to 21 weeks. If a bailiff warrant is required, the total median wait from claim to repossession stretches to between 26 and 43+ weeks, with Central London County Court averaging over 43 weeks.

Renters' Rights Notice & Section 13 Rent Increase Calculator (2026)

Step 1: Statutory Circumstance

Select Possession Reason or Notice Type

Section 21 no-fault evictions are abolished. Possession requires an explicit Section 8 ground.

Statutory Ground for Possession

Current Tenancy Duration (Months)14 months (1 yr 2 mo)

1 Month12-Mo Protected Threshold5 Years

Statutory Notice DeterminationLawful Notice Period

Required Statutory Notice

4 months

Ground Classification

Mandatory Order

Statutory Rules & Pre-Conditions:

Cannot be served during the first 12 months of the tenancy (protected period).
Notice period must be at least 4 clear statutory months.
The property cannot be marketed for rent or re-let within 12 months of the tenant vacating.
Breaching re-letting restrictions exposes landlords to local housing authority civil penalties up to £7,000.

Mandatory Evidentiary Standard for Court:

Signed contract with estate agency / auctioneer or conveyancing retainer letter.

Evidence of market valuation or sales brochure preparation.

Next Step if Tenant Does Not VacateCounty Court Application

Possession Claims Take 25–45 Weeks in County Court

Serving statutory notice is only step 1. If a tenant remains in occupation after notice expires, the landlord must obtain a County Court possession order and bailiff warrant before eviction can lawfully occur.

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