The UK Government has confirmed that residential tenancy notice periods will return to pre-pandemic timescales from 1 October 2021. The prescribed forms for s21 and s8 notices will also be updated.
Section 21 notice periods will again be two months and the notice periods for Section 8 notices relying on Grounds 8, 10 and 11 (rent arrears grounds) will revert to two weeks.
The Coronavirus Act 2020, introduced following the pandemic, allowed the Government to increase notice periods. The rules have been modified several times but have now reverted to pre-pandemic timescales. The notice periods for s21 notices varied as described below.
- Four months for notices served between 1 June 2021 and 30 September 2021
- Six months for notices served between 29 August 2020 and 31 May 2021
- Three months for notices served between 26 March 2020 and 28 August 2020
Section 8 notice periods varied depending on the ground relied upon. Further, there were exemptions for ‘serious’ cases (e.g. serious arears, no Right to Rent, anti-social behaviour).
The notice periods for notices already served will not change.
The Coronavirus Act 2020 and accompanying legislation will remain in force until 25 March 2022, meaning the Government could introduce further changes, such as amending notice periods, if the threat to public health worsens again.
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