What are grounds for possession?

Grounds for possession are the specific legal reasons a landlord must cite to legally end a tenancy and reclaim the property, used as part of a Section 8 notice.

Since Section 21 ("no fault" eviction) was abolished on 1 May 2026, grounds for possession are now the only way a landlord can end a tenancy - there's no route that doesn't require stating one.

Common grounds include: serious rent arrears, the landlord wanting to sell the property, the landlord or a close family member moving in, anti-social behaviour, and breach of the tenancy agreement. Each ground has its own required notice period and evidence standard - some (like severe rent arrears) can be as short as 2 weeks' notice, others require several months.

Why this matters to you: if you receive a notice, check which specific ground is being cited and whether it genuinely applies to your situation. Organisations like Shelter can help verify whether a ground has been correctly used.