when will section 21 be abolished

Section 21 no-fault evictions in England are expected to be abolished in early 2026, with the most likely commencement date around April 1, 2026. Although Labour pledged immediate abolition, the Renters' Rights Bill, which abolishes Section 21, is still progressing through Parliament and is anticipated to receive Royal Assent (become law) in late 2025, around October or November. After this, there will be a lead-in period of at least six months to allow landlords, letting agents, and tenants to prepare for the changes before the ban comes into force. Once effective, no new Section 21 notices will be allowed, and all tenancies will fall under the new tenancy system at once. The government aims to shift eviction processes to rely on Section 8 notices based on specific grounds rather than no-fault evictions.