How To Fill in Form 6A: A Step-by-Step Guide
Importantly, Form 6A was the prescribed form for serving a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction notice under the Housing Act 1988. Since the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026, Section 21 has been abolished and Form 6A can no longer be used for new notices. The last day a landlord could validly serve a Form 6A was 30 April 2026. Landlords must now rely on the statutory grounds for possession under Section 8, using the new prescribed Form 3A.
Landlords who served a valid Form 6A on or before 30 April 2026 may still rely on it, but must request issue of a claim form by whichever date comes first: (i) six months from service of the notice; or (ii) 31 July 2026, the three-month longstop date running from commencement. If the earliest date for possession proceedings specified in the notice falls on or after 1 August 2026, the notice is invalid.
Where proceedings were already requested before 1 May 2026, the old regime continues to conclusion. If the landlord misses the deadline, the notice lapses, the tenancy converts to an assured periodic tenancy, and the landlord must serve a fresh Section 8 notice under the reformed grounds.
For more information on the current legislative position see our blog here.
If you are considering recovering possession of your property, it is increasingly important to obtain specialist legal advice before serving notice on a tenant.
Many landlords assume that serving an eviction notice is a straightforward process. However, strict legal requirements must be satisfied before a valid notice can be served. Failure to comply with these requirements can render a notice invalid, causing delays, additional costs, and potentially requiring the process to be restarted.
The specialist team at Helix Law can advise landlords on the most appropriate route to recover possession of their property, ensure compliance with current legal requirements, and guide them through what is becoming an increasingly complex area of law.
