How Long Does A Section 8 Notice Take?
In theory, a Section 8 Notice should be quite rapid, and it can take as little as fourteen days before the landlord can issue possession proceedings. However, much depends on the reasons for the notice and how cooperative or uncooperative the tenants are.
A Section 8 Notice has to list the reason for eviction. The grounds for eviction dictate the period of time before the tenant leaves, which can range from fourteen days to two months.
Rent arrears are the most common reason for serving a Section 8 Notice and the notice period is fourteen days. However, rent arrears and financial difficulties can make it hard for a tenant to pay the deposit on a new property. Tenants may end up overstaying the notice period. Many will be advised that the court process to convert a Section 8 Notice into an order for possession and bailiff’s appointment can take several months.
If the tenant ignores the possession order, the landlord will have to evict them and apply for a date with the County Court Bailiff. On average, this can take another 5-10 weeks.
Other grounds in a Section 8 Notice which dictate a two-week notice period include:
- Ground 12: Breach of tenancy agreement
- Ground 13: Damage to property
- Ground 15: Damage to furniture
More extended notice periods include Ground 2, when a mortgage lender on the property has served a foreclosure notice. Citing this ground requires a minimum of two months’ notice and can only be used if the mortgage predates the start of the tenancy agreement.