England is about to close one of the most controversial chapters in its modern rental system. From 1 May 2026, landlords in the private rented sector will no longer be able to use Section 21, the legal route that allowed tenants to be evicted without the landlord having to prove fault. The change comes under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which also ends assured shorthold tenancies and shifts the system toward periodic tenancies with stronger tenant protections.
But just before the door closes, there is a scramble to get through it.
The Guardian has reported a rise in last minute no fault eviction notices as some landlords move before the law changes. According to figures cited from the renters’ union Acorn, the share of cases involving Section 21 notices rose from about one in five in October to nearly one in three by January. The government has also issued fresh guidance specifically for tenants who receive possession notices before 1 May 2026, a sig…
