Property & Landlord2 min check

Section 21 Historical Notice Checklist

Check a Section 21 notice served before abolition on 1 May 2026. New Section 21 notices can no longer be served in England's private rented sector.

Short answer

Section 21 was abolished in England's private rented sector on 1 May 2026. This checker is retained only for notices served before that date.

Step 1 of 10%

Calculation method, coverage and version

Inputs used: Was the notice served before 1 May 2026?, Deposit protected in scheme + prescribed info served within 30 days?, Valid EPC (rating E or better) given to tenant?, Current Gas Safety Certificate provided before move-in & at each renewal?, How to Rent guide (latest version) given to tenant?, Property licensed (if HMO / selective licensing area)?, Tenancy stage, Has council served improvement notice in last 6 months?.
Calculation approach: The calculator applies the rules and assumptions described in “How it works” to the values you enter. Rounding can cause small differences from an official or provider calculation.
Coverage: Property & Landlord. UK nations, tax treatment, local rules and provider criteria can differ; check the official sources shown below before acting.
Content version: No page-specific review date is currently published. Treat the result as indicative and verify current rules independently.

Not included unless explicitly requested: personal circumstances not entered, provider discretion, future rule changes, professional fees and case-specific exceptions. Read the full calculator methodology.

Primary sources and official verification

Use these official sources to verify current rules before acting. Coverage and dates can differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

See the sitewide source policy.

How it works

We run through the standard Spencer v Taylor + Trecarrell checklist. Any missed item invalidates the notice — you'd have to fix it and re-serve.

Worked example

Tenancy started 1 June 2024, deposit protected 5 June, gas safety issued 1 June, EPC + How to Rent on move-in. Serve Form 6A on 1 March 2026 → notice expires 1 May 2026, then court if needed.

Who should use this

•Landlords ending a periodic tenancy
•Anyone whose previous Court application was struck out
•Letting agents auditing notices before issue

Common mistakes

×Serving in the first 4 months of an AST
×Wrong notice form (must be Form 6A in England)
×Less than 2 months' notice
×Late deposit protection — even by 1 day blocks s.21
×Missing gas safety on day 1 of tenancy (Trecarrell helps but not always)

Frequently asked questions

When was Section 21 abolished?▾

Section 21 was abolished for England's private rented sector on 1 May 2026. Transitional rules may affect notices served before that date.

Do I need a reason?▾

No — that's why it's called no-fault. But the bill will require a stated ground after abolition.

What if the tenant doesn't leave?▾

Apply to the County Court for a possession order, then bailiffs if still not out. Whole process can take 4–7 months.

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Deposit Protection →Landlord Compliance →Rent Increase →