Section 8 and Form 3A: what it is, and a fact sheet to take to an adviser
Form 3A is the official section 8 notice a landlord in England uses to seek possession. The grounds and the notice periods differ, and only a court can end a tenancy. We give no notice wording; this is a fact sheet to prepare before you speak to a solicitor or a landlord association.
England. Checked against the law on 27 September 2026. Information, not legal advice.
When to use this
Use it when you are thinking about getting a property back and want to understand the process before you speak to an adviser. Form 3A is the official notice seeking possession under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988. Section 21 no longer exists in England, so possession is only available on a ground in Schedule 2.
This page has no notice wording of its own and never will. The form comes from GOV.UK, and the decision to start is yours alone, taken with a solicitor or a landlord association.
Before you send it
- Grounds differ. Some are mandatory (if proven, the court must order possession) and some are discretionary (the judge decides whether it is reasonable).
- Notice periods differ by ground. For example four months where you intend to sell or move in, and four weeks for rent arrears. Selling and moving in cannot be used in the first twelve months of a tenancy. The possession guide has the table.
- Only a court can end the tenancy. A notice is not an eviction. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord applies to the county court. Changing the locks is a criminal offence.
- Your own paperwork matters. An unprotected deposit or a missing gas safety record can block a ground.
- The official form and its guidance notes are on the assured tenancy forms page. Its wording must not be altered.
The template
Fact sheet for your adviser (this is not a notice and must not be sent to the tenant)
Property: [full address of the property]
Tenants: [names of every tenant]
Tenancy start date: [date]
Current rent: [amount] per [month / week], due on [day]
Why you want the property back, in your own words: [reason]
| Record | Date or reference | Copy to hand? |
|---|---|---|
| Written statement or tenancy agreement | [date given] | [yes / no] |
| Deposit protected, and the scheme | [date, scheme, reference] | [yes / no] |
| Deposit prescribed information given | [date] | [yes / no] |
| Gas safety record given to the tenant | [date] | [yes / no] |
| Electrical report (EICR) given | [date] | [yes / no] |
| EPC given | [date] | [yes / no] |
| Rent record for the last twelve months | [period covered] | [yes / no] |
| Letters and messages with the tenant | [period covered] | [yes / no] |
Adviser spoken to: [solicitor or landlord association], on [date]
What happens next
Take the fact sheet and the documents to a solicitor or a landlord association before anything is served. They will tell you which ground fits the facts, the notice period that applies and how the form must be served. LevelMoves keeps your records and dates in order; it does not draft or serve a possession notice, and it does not decide when to start.
Information about the law in England, not legal advice. Checked on the date shown.
Where this comes from
Questions about this template
What is Form 3A?
The official notice seeking possession of a property let on an assured tenancy in the private rented sector, also called a section 8 notice. It is published on GOV.UK and its wording must not be altered.
Does a section 8 notice end the tenancy?
No. If the tenant does not leave, only a court order, enforced by bailiffs if needed, ends the occupation. Changing the locks is unlawful eviction.
Can LevelMoves write the notice for me?
No. Possession is a landlord-only decision and a matter for a solicitor or a landlord association. LevelMoves gives information and keeps your records ready for them.
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