Looking for P3 Housing Association?
Go to P3 Housing
Looking for P3 Housing Association?
Go to P3 Housing
With an increasing number of people facing housing insecurity in England, we’ve seen a record number of evictions or people at risk of eviction. In 2025, 19.9 million people were experiencing housing pressures and approximately 147,870 households were threatened with homelessness across England, compared with 54,430 households ten years prior.
At such an uncertain time, it’s important to know where to turn and what to do if you’re facing eviction. Understanding your rights, getting the right advice and knowing what support is available can help you avoid eviction and help you secure alternative accommodation, if you need it.
If you or someone you know is at risk of eviction or is struggling to understand the legal process behind it, Shelter – one of the UK’s leading housing charities offering localised advice and legal support – can help. Shelter provides up-to-date legal information to help you understand the process and help you make informed decisions about your options.
If you’re facing homelessness, find out if P3 operates in your area and can offer help.
Receiving an eviction notice can be scary, which is why it’s important to understand exactly what the notice means and what your options are. Below you will find key terms for understanding eviction. If you need further support with understanding what these terms mean, get in touch with P3 Charity or other local support services.
Assured Shorthold Tenancy
The most common type of private rental agreement in England, giving tenants the right to live in a property for a fixed period or on a rolling basis.
Bailiff
A court-appointed official authorised to carry out legal actions, such as enforcing an eviction.
Bailiff Enforcement
The final stage of the eviction process, where bailiffs attend the property to legally remove tenants following a court order.
Eviction
The legal process through which a landlord requires a tenant to leave a rented property.
Eviction Notice
A formal written notice from a landlord telling a tenant they must leave the property. Though all eviction notices should be in line with legal requirements, not all landlords will follow this process. Check that your notice is legal before moving on to next steps.
Housing Tribunal
A legal body that hears and decides disputes between landlords and tenants, including eviction cases (in England, this is usually the County Court).
Grounds for Eviction
The legally recognised reasons a landlord can use to seek possession of a property, such as rent arrears or breach of tenancy terms.
No-fault Eviction
An eviction where the landlord does not need to provide a reason for asking a tenant to leave (commonly associated with Section 21 notices). These will be made illegal as of 1 May 2026.
Notice to Quit
A Notice to Quit is a formal legal notice that ends a tenancy and tells a tenant they must leave a property by a specified date.
In England, a Notice to Quit must be in writing and must give a minimum of four weeks’ notice. If the tenant does not leave after this period, the landlord will need to apply for a court possession order.
Possession Order
A court order that grants a landlord the legal right to take back possession of their property. Tenants may be forcibly removed if they do not comply.
Section 8
A legal notice used by landlords to seek eviction based on specific grounds, such as rent arrears or a breach of tenancy agreement. A Section 8 notice must be given in writing and must state the grounds for eviction, meaning it requires different notice periods depending on the grounds used and can be served at any point during the tenancy. If the tenant does not leave after this period, the landlord will need to apply for a court possession order.
Section 21
A legal notice allowing landlords to regain possession of a property without giving a reason, provided correct procedures are followed. This can also be known as a ‘no-fault eviction’ and can only be used for Assured Shorthold Tenancies.
A Section 21 notice must be given in writing with at least two months’ notice and cannot be used during the first four months of a tenancy. If the tenant does not leave after this period, the landlord will need to apply for a court possession order.
Rent Arrears
Unpaid rent that a tenant owes to their landlord.
Tenancy Agreement
A legally binding contract outlining the rights and responsibilities of both the tenant and the landlord.
Unlawful Eviction
When a landlord forces a tenant out without following the correct legal process, which is a criminal offence. You can find a full list of housing-related terms on our glossary.
If you don’t understand your eviction notice or think it doesn’t comply with legal procedures, get in touch with P3 Charity or another trusted housing organisation.
Across England, you can’t be evicted without appropriate notice or without the appropriate legal paperwork. A landlord must follow the correct legal process before you’re required to leave your home. Even if you’ve received a notice, there’s still support available.
Because of the legal framework surrounding evictions, it’s a good idea to get in touch with experts who can support you with the legal side of things. For example, Shelter’s comprehensive guide on Eviction has loads of up-to-date information and can signpost you towards the right advice.
Need to get in touch with Shelter for eviction support? Click here.
You should also try and get support for issues that might lead to an eviction notice or effect your housing, such as rent arrears, debt or unemployment. Advice services aren’t just available once you receive an eviction notice; seeking support early gives you the best chance to prevent homelessness, access financial help and plan your next steps.
If you need help, you’re not alone. With 360,050 households in England seeking housing support across 2024-25 – up from 325,000 households in 2023-24 – that’s nearly 1,000 households every day who are seeking support for housing insecurity: something that if ignored can lead to eviction and homelessness.
If you’re struggling with the cost-of-living, you can find out more about the support available to you by reading our article. Read on for more tips on what to do if you’re facing eviction and where to seek support.
If you’re at risk of homelessness, it’s important to act as quickly as possible and you shouldn’t wait until you’ve lost your home to ask for help.
Contact your local council as soon as you think you may become homeless. By law, councils must assess your situation if you’re at risk of homelessness within the next 56 days. This assessment helps them understand your circumstances and decide what support they may be able to offer.
Your council may be able to help you stay in your current home, arrange temporary or emergency accommodation or put you in touch with homelessness prevention services. They should also explain your housing rights and what options are available to you.
Alternatively, if at this stage you are looking for advice or unsure what the terminology means, your first point of call should be Citizens Advice or a trusted housing charity such as P3. They can help you understand your options, provide practical support and make sure you’re getting the financial help may be entitled to.
You can refer yourself to most of these services. If money worries are contributing to your housing situation, you may be able to access support with budgeting, benefits, debt advice or emergency grants, and most of these services offer free support to help you navigate homelessness, the eviction process or explore realistic housing options.
Click here to find out if P3 operates in your area and can offer support.
P3 Charity
Shelter
Citizens Advice
Gov.UK
Housing Ombudsman
Local council’s housing options team
Legal aid checker
Click the button below to find your nearest P3 service.
Not in your area? Visit Gov.UK
