Section 21 came to an end
The 31 July deadline landlords could not miss
For years, Section 21 was the route landlords used to regain possession of their property without having to rely on specific legal grounds. However, with the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, Section 21 was abolished for new cases, and 31 July 2026 marked the final deadline for landlords to submit court proceedings using any valid Section 21 notice that had been served before 1 May 2026.
Sharon Canning. Owner of Move On Sales and Lettings
If a landlord had served a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026 and their tenant had not vacated the property, simply having the notice was not enough. Court proceedings had to be issued by 31 July 2026. Those who missed the deadline found that their Section 21 notice was no longer valid, meaning they had to begin the possession process again using one of the new Section 8 grounds introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act.
This represented a significant milestone in the private rented sector. From August onwards, Section 21 became history, with all possession claims needing to rely on the revised Section 8 process. Landlords were now required to demonstrate a valid legal ground for seeking possession.
For any landlord who had an outstanding Section 21 notice, it was essential to ensure court proceedings had been issued before the deadline. Those who failed to do so faced further delays, additional costs and the prospect of starting the possession process from the beginning.
At Move On, we had been preparing our landlords for the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act for many months. Although Section 21 had now been consigned to history, we continue to help landlords navigate the new legislation, understand their responsibilities and protect their investments in an increasingly regulated rental market.
MAKING TAX DIGITAL: BUY-TO-LET LANDLORDS NEED TO BE READY
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is transforming the way landlords report their income to HMRC. If you own buy-to-let property, it’s important to know when the new rules will affect you and what you need to do to prepare.
The introduction of MTD for Income Tax is being phased in based on your combined gross income from property and self-employment.
- From 6 April 2026, landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 will be required to comply with Making Tax Digital.
- From 6 April 2027, the threshold reduces to over £30,000.
- From 6 April 2028, it falls again to over £20,000, bringing many more buy-to-let landlords into the new system.
Instead of submitting one annual Self Assessment tax return, landlords within MTD will need to keep digital records using HMRC-compatible software, submit quarterly updates to HMRC and complete a final end-of-year declaration. The aim is to improve the accuracy of tax reporting and help taxpayers keep on top of their finances throughout the year.
If you currently keep paper records or only update your accounts once a year, now is the time to review your bookkeeping systems. Preparing early will make the transition much smoother and reduce the risk of errors or missed deadlines.
With the Renters’ Rights Act, increasing compliance obligations and ongoing tax changes, landlords are facing more administration than ever before. Good record keeping has become an essential part of successful property investment.
At Move On, we don’t provide tax advice, but we do encourage all our landlords to speak with their accountant and ensure they are ready well before their MTD start date. Taking action now will help you stay compliant, avoid unnecessary stress and keep your property portfolio running efficiently in an increasingly regulated market.
Sharon Canning and her team at Move On, are a multi-award winning company who specialise in lettings and are renowned locally of being the experts. For a free, friendly chat, contact Sharon or her team, or email sharon@moveon.biz.
CONTACT
T. 01202 711169
420 Poole Rd, Branksome, Poole BH12 1DF
www.moveonsalesandlettings.co.uk
