How will Section 21 abolition impact landlords selling?
Section 21 “no fault” evictions are due to be abolished from 1 May 2026 as part of the Renters’ Rights Act. This will remove a landlord’s ability to evict tenants without providing a valid legal reason.
Instead, landlords will need to rely on specific grounds for possession, such as selling the property, moving in themselves, or tenant-related breaches. These cases will typically go through a more formal legal process.
For landlords looking to sell, this change is likely to have a direct impact.
Once Section 21 is removed:
- Regaining vacant possession may take longer
- You may need to provide evidence and follow a formal possession process
- Selling with tenants in place may become more common
- Some buyers may be less willing to proceed without vacant possession
This can affect both how quickly your property sells and the number of interested buyers, particularly on the open market where vacant possession is often preferred.
Selling to a direct buyer can offer more flexibility. Sell House Fast can buy properties with tenants in place, allowing you to sell without needing to go through the possession process first.
If you want to avoid delays linked to tenancy changes, you can request a free cash offer to sell your tenanted property.
