Landlords facing the final deadline for Section 21 'no-fault' evictions contributed to a sharp increase in possession claims last month. Tenant eviction specialists, Landlord Action, experienced their busiest month for enquiries in nearly a year, excluding spikes in March and April.
New instructions for Landlord Action in July 2026 were 28% higher than in July 2025. Over 35% of these enquiries converted into cases, with almost one-third related to landlords trying to advance Section 21 claims before the 31 July deadline.
Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, noted the significant pressure from the deadline, with many landlords seeking advice or attempting to progress claims in the final days. He cautioned that instructing a solicitor immediately before the deadline did not guarantee a claim could be issued.
Landlords who served a valid Section 21 notice before 1 May had until 31 July, or the notice's earlier expiry, to start possession proceedings. Those who missed this timeframe can no longer use that notice and must consider if a revised Section 8 ground applies.
Among new possession cases in July, rent-related Grounds 8, 10, or 11 accounted for 39%. Ground 1A, for landlords intending to sell, was used in 30% of cases, while Ground 1, for occupation by the landlord or a family member, made up 8%.