Section 8 Standard Possession Procedure

The guidance notes and template documents below are designed to help residential landlords in England and their professional advisers to recover possession of premises that have been let on an assured shorthold tenancy (AST).

This subfolder contains Guidance Notes explaining the “Standard” (fault-based) Procedure for Possession under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988. The procedure requires the landlord to take various steps starting with service of a Section 8 Notice stating the landlord’s grounds for possession. The landlord may then need to bring a court claim if the tenant does not vacate willingly and may subsequently need to take enforcement action if the tenant remains in occupation after the court has made an order for possession.

If the contractual term of the tenancy has come to an end the landlord may be able to serve a Section 21 Notice and use the accelerated procedure for possession. Please refer to our Accelerated Possession Proceedings documents for further information.

These templates are suitable for use in England only. Rules for terminating occupation contracts in Wales are in place under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Please see the Renting Homes Wales group for further information. 

The documents needed at each stage of the process are included in this subfolder. The Notices, Court Forms and covering Letters are professionally drafted and are accompanied by explanatory notes.

• Guidance Notes: Possession Procedure for Rent Arrears (Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988)
• N5 Claim Form for Possession of Property (Standard Procedure)
• Form N119 - Particulars of Claim for Possession
• Form N119A - Notes for Guidance on Completing Particulars of Claim Form
• Schedule of Rent Arrears for Possession Claim
• Letter to County Court Enclosing Forms N5 and Form N119
• Notice to Tenant Regarding Fixing a Date for Possession
• Use Form N244 For Application Notice to Fix a Date for Possession
• Letter to Tenant Requiring Possession under Outright Possession Order
• Letter to Tenant Requiring Compliance with Suspended Possession Order
• Letter to Tenant Requiring Compliance with Postponed Possession Order

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