Covering letter for section 8 notice

Use this as a covering letter when serving a notice seeking possession under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 against a tenant with an assured or assured shorthold tenancy agreement solely on the grounds that there are current rent arrears.

Important: The Renters' Rights Act will come into force on 1 May 2026. Among other significant changes, this will change the circumstances in which you can use section 8 notices. If you are serving (giving) a section 8 notice on or after 1 May 2026, different rules will apply and you will need a different version of the notice. Make sure you are using the correct version of the notice.