Landlords planning to sell a property this autumn using Ground 1 or Ground 1A of the Housing Act 1988 face a twelve-month re-letting ban. This restricted period, inserted by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, starts the day the notice is served, not when the tenant leaves.
The restriction means landlords cannot re-let, licence for money, or advertise the property to let for approximately sixteen months from the date the notice is posted. This includes informal notices like text or WhatsApp messages. The ban is triggered by relying on the ground, even if possession is not gained.
Breaching the re-letting or marketing ban is a criminal offence, which can lead to fines of up to £40,000 from the council. Lesser breaches can result in fines up to £7,000. Directors of a company landlord can be personally liable for neglect in re-letting offences.
The restriction ends immediately if a court grants possession on a different ground, such as serious arrears under Ground 8. Landlords can still market the property for sale, sell it, or grant a lease longer than 21 years during this period.