Section 21 notice validity: outcome guides

Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. These guides cover legacy notices served before abolition that may still be in the court system.

The guides are grouped by topic: deposit protection, prescribed documents (EPC, gas safety, How to Rent), notice timing, prescribed notice form (Form 6A), licensing, Tenant Fees Act compliance, and the retaliatory eviction sequence under the Deregulation Act 2015.

Each guide explains how the Section 21 checker uses one specific legal condition, what evidence matters, and what could change the outcome.

Browse Section 21 validity guides

• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: tenancy was not an assured shorthold tenancy
  Check this Section 21 defect: tenancy was not an assured. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: tenancy was an assured shorthold tenancy
  Check this Section 21 validity point: tenancy was an assured shorthold. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the tenancy was an assured shorthold tenancy
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: tenancy was an assured shorthold. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: tenancy was periodic from the start or contractual periodic after the fixed term
  Check this Section 21 validity point: tenancy was periodic from the. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: tenancy began with a fixed term and only later became statutory periodic
  Check this Section 21 requirement: tenancy began with a fixed term. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know what kind of periodic tenancy this is
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: kind of periodic tenancy this is. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: notice was served on or after 1 May 2026
  Check this Section 21 defect: notice was served on or after 1. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: notice was served before 1 May 2026
  Check this Section 21 validity point: notice was served before 1 may 2026. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know when the notice was served
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: notice was served. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: possession date in the notice was on or after 1 August 2026
  Check this Section 21 defect: possession date in the notice. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: possession date in the notice was before 1 August 2026
  Check this Section 21 validity point: possession date in the notice. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know what possession date the notice says
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: possession date the notice says. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: court proceedings may have been started after the Section 21 deadline
  Check whether late court proceedings stop a legacy Section 21 notice being relied on after the 2026 transition deadline.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: court proceedings were started before the Section 21 deadline expired
  Check this Section 21 validity point: court claim started before deadline. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know when court proceedings were issued
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: court proceedings were issued. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: notice was served in the first four months of the original tenancy
  Check this Section 21 defect: notice was served in the first. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: notice was served after the first four months of the original tenancy
  Check this Section 21 validity point: notice was served after the. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the first four months had already passed
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: first four months had already passed. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: notice gave less than two months before possession was required
  Check this Section 21 defect: notice gave less than two months. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: notice gave at least two months before possession was required
  Check this Section 21 validity point: notice gave at least two months. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the notice gave a full two months
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: notice gave a full two months. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: Form 6A or equivalent information was not used
  Check this Section 21 defect: form 6a was not used. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: Form 6A or equivalent information was used
  Check this Section 21 validity point: form 6a was used. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether Form 6A or equivalent information was used
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: form 6a was used. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: deposit was taken
  Check this Section 21 validity point: deposit was taken. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: no deposit was taken
  Check this Section 21 requirement: no deposit was taken. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether a deposit was taken
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: deposit was taken. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: deposit was not protected
  Landlord did not protect your tenancy deposit? Check why that can block a legacy Section 21 notice and what evidence tenants should keep.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: deposit was protected
  Check this Section 21 validity point: deposit was protected. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the deposit was protected
  Don't know if your landlord protected your deposit? Here's how to check in 2 minutes, and what it means for your Section 21 notice.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: deposit was protected more than 30 days after it was paid
  Deposit protected after the 30-day deadline? Check how late protection affects a legacy Section 21 notice and what records tenants need.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: deposit was protected within 30 days of payment
  Check this Section 21 validity point: deposit was protected within 30. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know when the deposit was protected
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: deposit was protected. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: prescribed deposit information was not served
  Check this Section 21 defect: prescribed deposit information. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: prescribed deposit information was served
  Check this Section 21 validity point: prescribed deposit information. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the prescribed deposit information was served
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: prescribed deposit information. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: prescribed information did not include the scheme details
  Check this Section 21 defect: prescribed info did not include. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: prescribed information included the scheme details
  Check this Section 21 validity point: prescribed info included the. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the scheme details were included
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: scheme details were included. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: prescribed information did not include the deposit amount and property address
  Missing deposit amount or property address in prescribed information? Check the legacy Section 21 validity risk for private renters in England.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: prescribed information included the deposit amount and property address
  Current England guidance on Section 21 deposit protection prescribed information: amount, address, 30-day rules, and 2026 legacy deadlines.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the deposit amount and property address were included
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: deposit amount and property. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: prescribed information did not explain when the deposit could be retained
  Check this Section 21 defect: prescribed info did not explain. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: prescribed information explained when the deposit could be retained
  Check this Section 21 validity point: prescribed info explained when. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the retention circumstances were explained
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: retention circumstances were. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: there was no tenant confirmation step in the prescribed information
  Check this Section 21 defect: there was no tenant confirmation. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: there was a tenant confirmation step in the prescribed information
  Check this Section 21 validity point: there was a tenant confirmation. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether there was a tenant confirmation step
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: there was a tenant confirmation step. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: prescribed information was served more than 30 days after the deposit was paid
  Prescribed deposit information served after 30 days? Check how late service can affect a legacy Section 21 notice and what evidence matters.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: prescribed information was served within 30 days of the deposit being paid
  Check this Section 21 validity point: prescribed info was served. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know when the prescribed information was served
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: prescribed info was served. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: an EPC was not provided before the notice
  Check this Section 21 validity point: epc was not provided before the. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: an EPC was provided before the notice
  Check this Section 21 requirement: epc was provided before the notice. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether an EPC was provided
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: epc was provided. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: gas safety certificate was not provided before the notice
  Check this Section 21 validity point: gas safety certificate missing. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: gas safety certificate was provided before the notice
  Check this Section 21 requirement: gas safety certificate provided. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether a gas safety certificate was provided
  If you're not sure whether your landlord gave you a gas safety certificate, your Section 21 notice could be invalid. Here's how to check.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: property had a gas supply
  Check this Section 21 validity point: property had a gas supply. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: property had no gas supply
  Check this Section 21 requirement: property had no gas supply. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the property had a gas supply
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: property had a gas supply. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: How to Rent guide was not provided
  Check this Section 21 validity point: how to rent guide was not provided. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: How to Rent guide was provided
  Check this Section 21 requirement: how to rent guide was provided. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the How to Rent guide was provided
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: how to rent guide was provided. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: property needed a licence
  Check this Section 21 validity point: property needed a licence. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: property did not need a licence
  Check this Section 21 requirement: property did not need a licence. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the property needed a licence
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: property needed a licence. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: required licence was not held or at least applied for
  Check this Section 21 defect: required licence was not held or. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: required licence was held or at least applied for
  Check this Section 21 validity point: required licence was held or at. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the landlord held or applied for the licence
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: landlord held or applied for the. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: five or more people from two or more households shared the property and no HMO licence was in place
  Check this Section 21 defect: no hmo licence for 5+ sharers. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: property did not appear to cross the mandatory HMO threshold
  Check this Section 21 requirement: property did not appear to cross. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the property crossed the mandatory HMO threshold
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: property crossed the mandatory. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: prohibited payment or holding deposit had not been repaid
  Check this Section 21 defect: prohibited payment not repaid. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: any prohibited payment or holding deposit had been repaid
  Check this Section 21 requirement: prohibited payment repaid. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether any prohibited payment was still outstanding
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: any prohibited payment was still. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: there was no written complaint to the landlord before the notice
  Check this Section 21 requirement: there was no written complaint. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: there was a written complaint to the landlord before the notice
  Check this Section 21 validity point: there was a written complaint to. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether there was a qualifying written complaint before the notice
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: there was a qualifying written. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: written complaint date cannot be proved
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: written complaint date cannot be. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: written complaint date can be proved
  Check this Section 21 validity point: written complaint date can be proved. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know what date the written complaint was sent
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: date the written complaint was sent. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: landlord did not respond within 14 days
  Check this Section 21 validity point: landlord did not respond within. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: landlord responded within 14 days
  Check this Section 21 requirement: landlord responded within 14 days. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the landlord responded within 14 days
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: landlord responded within 14 days. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: landlord's response was not adequate
  Check this Section 21 validity point: landlord's response was not adequate. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: landlord's response was adequate
  Check this Section 21 requirement: landlord's response was adequate. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the landlord's response was adequate
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: landlord's response was adequate. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: council was not asked to inspect the disrepair
  Check this Section 21 requirement: council was not asked to inspect. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: council was asked to inspect the disrepair
  Check this Section 21 validity point: council was asked to inspect the. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the council complaint counted as a formal escalation
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: council complaint counted as a. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: council served an improvement notice in the last six months
  Check this Section 21 defect: council served an improvement. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: council did not serve an improvement notice in the last six months
  Check how the absence of a recent council improvement notice affects the Section 21 retaliatory-eviction bar.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether an improvement notice was served
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: improvement notice was served. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: council served an emergency remedial action notice in the last six months
  Check this Section 21 defect: council served an emergency. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: council did not serve an emergency remedial action notice in the last six months
  Check this Section 21 requirement: council did not serve an. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether an emergency remedial action notice was served
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: emergency council notice was served. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: Section 21 notice was served after the relevant council notice
  Check this Section 21 defect: section 21 notice was served. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: Section 21 notice was served before the relevant council notice
  Check this Section 21 validity point: section 21 notice was served. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the Section 21 was served before or after the council notice
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: section 21 was served before or. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice may be invalid: council notice was not quashed on appeal
  Check this Section 21 defect: council notice was not quashed. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• This Section 21 requirement appears met: council notice was quashed on appeal
  Check this Section 21 requirement: council notice was quashed on appeal. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether the council notice was quashed on appeal
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: council notice was quashed on appeal. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: court papers have already been issued
  Check this Section 21 validity point: court papers have already been. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: court papers have not yet been issued
  Check this Section 21 validity point: court papers have not yet been. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know whether court papers have been issued
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: court papers have been issued. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: original tenancy start date is unclear
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: original tenancy start date is. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• Your Section 21 notice needs checking: original tenancy start date can be proved
  Check this Section 21 validity point: original tenancy start date can. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.
• More information is needed: I do not know the original tenancy start date
  Find the missing evidence for this Section 21 check: i do not know the original. See what evidence matters and when to run the full checker.

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