Can my landlord evict me without a reason now?

No. Since 1 May 2026, your landlord cannot evict you without giving a specific legal reason. This is one of the biggest changes the Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduced.

Before this law, landlords could use a "Section 21 notice" to ask you to leave with just two months' notice and no explanation required. That option no longer exists.

Your landlord must now use a "Section 8 notice" and state a legal ground — a valid reason — for wanting you to leave. Valid reasons include serious rent arrears (three months or more), anti-social behaviour, or the landlord genuinely needing to sell or move back into the property. They must give you the correct amount of notice, usually four months.

If your landlord tries to evict you without a reason or uses a new Section 21 notice dated after 30 April 2026, it is not valid. You do not have to leave.

If you've received any kind of eviction notice, check the date it was served. If it's a Section 21 notice dated on or after 1 May 2026, contact Shelter England (shelter.org.uk) or your local Citizens Advice immediately — you have grounds to challenge it.