If you\u2019re living in assured shorthold\ntenancy and you receive a Section 21 notice, it means that your landlord is\ntaking steps to have you evited from your home. This could be for a number of\nreasons, however, in many cases it\u2019s because your landlord either wants to sell\ntheir property or move back into that property. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to know your rights as a\ntenant, though, so if you do receive a Section 21 notice, you should take the\nfollowing steps: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do You Have to Leave Your Home? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Section 21 notice will come with a\nproposed end date, which is when your landlord would like you to move out. If\nthis date doesn\u2019t suit you, you can ask your landlord for an extension. This\nshould be done in writing and you must keep a copy of all correspondence as\nthis may be needed for you to use as evidence in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your landlord can not force you out your\nhome. Indeed, you can only be forced to leave once your landlord has gone to\ncourt and received a warrant for your eviction \u2013 and then it\u2019s the court\nbailiffs that will evict you. A landlord can only take their Section 21 notice\nto court after the proposed end date to your tenancy. You can also contact the\ncourt yourself and ask for the courts to let you stay in the property for\nlonger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Never leave the property before the end\ndate on your Section 21 notice if you have not found new accommodation! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do You Still Need to Pay Rent? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You will still need to pay rent on your\nhome until your tenancy ends \u2013 such as the end date on your Section 21 notice.\nWhen you believe you have paid all the rent you owe, get your landlord to\nconfirm in writing that you have paid all your rent in full. You should both\nsign this letter and keep it for your records. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t pay rent, your landlord will\ntake you to court for the money. You may also receive a bad reference, which\nmeans you could struggle to find a new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Happens if You Receive Court Papers? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have received a Section 21 notice\nand have stayed in the property past the end of tenancy date, you will likely\nreceive court papers telling you that your landlord is taking legal action to\nhave you removed. Known as a Possession Claim, you can take this opportunity to\nfill in a N11B Defence Form, stating the reasons why you should not be removed\nfrom your home yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These reasons might include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind, if you do go to court, you\nmay be liable to pay court fees, however you may be eligible for legal aid\ndepending on your circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re unsure how to deal with a Section\n21 notice or court papers, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau and they\nwill be able to guide you through the process. <\/p>\n