If you rent from a private landlord and have been given notice to leave, you should contact the Council’s Housing Options Team as soon as possible to discuss your situation and the help available.

We will:

• check whether your notice is legally valid and that your landlord has followed the correct process
• speak to your landlord, where appropriate, to try to help you remain in your home
• advise you of your rights, including whether you can stay in your property until a court orders you to leave
• help you look for alternative accommodation if we cannot prevent your homelessness
• discuss other support available, such as help with rent, arrears, deposits or tenancy sustainment

Renters’ Rights Act Changes

The law relating to private renting changed on 1 May 2026. Most assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) became assured tenancies and Section 21 (“no fault”) eviction notices were abolished. Assured tenants now have stronger rights.

If you were served a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026:

• your landlord may still be able to use this notice, provided it is valid
• they must apply to the court before 31 July 2026
• if they do not apply by this date, your tenancy will become an assured tenancy, giving you greater protection from eviction

How eviction works for assured tenancies

If you have an assured tenancy, your landlord must follow a legal process to evict you:

• Notice - you must be given a written notice explaining the reason (grounds) for eviction and the required notice period
• Possession Order - if you do not leave after the notice expires, your landlord must apply to court and prove their grounds for possession
• Bailiff Eviction - if the court orders possession and you do not leave; your landlord must arrange for a court appointed bailiff to carry out the eviction

Landlords must follow this process. They cannot force you to leave early or harass you and doing so can be illegal and be classed as an illegal eviction.

Important to know

This process can take time and may allow you to stay in your home longer. However, there may be court costs or other charges that you could be asked to pay and so it is important to seek advice as early as possible, so you fully understand your options.

What you can do

• speak to your landlord as soon as possible to understand why notice has been given and whether a solution can be agreed
• contact our Housing Options Team immediately and send us a copy of your notice
• if you have rent arrears, seek budgeting or debt advice from the local Citizens Advice Bureau
• pay what you can towards your rent and reduce arrears where possible
• ask your landlord if they will consider withdrawing the notice if you agree a repayment plan - try to get any agreement in writing

Do not ignore your notice or any court letters. The sooner you seek help, the more options you are likely to have to either stay in the property or to find something else before you are evicted.

Further advice

Shelter provides free, independent advice on housing and evictions and further information can be found at Shelter (england.shelter.org.uk).

Contact Us

Our Housing Options Team can advise you on your housing situation and explain what help is available.

You can contact us by:

Phone: 01785 619000

Email: housingadvice@staffordbc.gov.uk 

If you are homeless and the council offices are closed, then you can contact the homelessness out of hours service on 01785 619170.

You should only use this service if you have nowhere to stay immediately.