According to data from the Ministry of Justice, more than 28,000 landlords used Article 21 to carry out evictions last year.
The data shows that 28,598 accelerated possession claims were filed in 2025 – a process that was entirely dependent on section 21 and will be abolished under the law. Tenants Rights Act 2025 from May 1st.
Expedited possession was a quicker, often hearing-free route through the district courts, available only if a landlord had a valid section 21 notice.
Attorney Clifton Ingram said this system was widely used because it was simple and was the path of least resistance in seeking possession.
Landlords who now want to regain possession must rely on one of the new legal grounds:
• Serious rent arrears
• Antisocial behavior
• The landlord’s intention to sell
• The landlord or a close family member who wants to move in
They must serve a Section 8 notice, cite the relevant ground and usually be prepared to demonstrate this in court.
Clifton Ingram, joint head of dispute resolution and litigation, David Goddard, said: “The accelerated possession figures show how much of the market was reliant on a process that no longer exists.
“Landlords now need to understand what has replaced that. Possession under the new regime is either mandatory – where the court must grant possession if the land is established – or discretionary – where the court decides whether it is reasonable to do so. This distinction affects how predictable the outcome will be.
“The key practical point is that landlords must now serve a Section 8 notice, put forward the right grounds, give the correct notice period and be prepared to go to court if necessary. Those steps require preparation.”
The change is just as big for tenants. Article 21 – the so-called ‘no-fault eviction’ – has long been a source of uncertainty in the private rental sector.
Many tenants have been reluctant to raise concerns about disrepair, rent increases or other issues for fear of receiving a section 21 notice. By abolishing that process, tenants can no longer be asked to leave without a legal reason.
The Renters’ Rights Act also changes the fundamental structure of private rental agreements. Assured short-hold leases have been replaced by guaranteed periodic leases, meaning leases now run on a rolling basis rather than ending at a fixed term. A written end date no longer obliges a tenant to leave.
The law also bans rental bids, limits rent increases to once a year through a statutory procedure, limits rent advances to one month and gives tenants the right to request a pet – which landlords cannot refuse without good reason.