Visum can help with all aspects of tenant eviction. Getting the eviction process or eviction notices wrong in any way
will be one of the most costly mistakes you can make. We can help with completion of Section 8 notices, Section 21 notices
and court paperwork, and we can also advise on all aspects of the eviction process. Our eviction notices are solicitor checked and court tested.
We have compiled the most commonly asked question and answers in relation to tenant eviction below.
If we can help any further please feel free to
contact us.
- What is the first step to evicting a tenant on any grounds under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy?
All tenant eviction proceedings under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) start with either the serving of a Section 8 or a Section 21 Notice Seeking Possession.
- Why do I need to have these section notices completed for me, why should I not just do them myself?
The notices have to be filled out correctly, contain specific dates and details, and have very specific wording. Our eviction section notices are solicitor
approved and court tested. Our unique system will guide you through a set of simple questions to get the notice correct every time with no stress on your part.
- Can Visum online systems create the completed Section 8 notice?
Yes - quickly and simply. As long as you enter truthful and accurate information in the simple form fields then you will get a LEGALLY CORRECT notice at a price you won't beat. There are no
difficult questions to answer.
- Can Visum's online systems create the completed Section 21 notice?
Yes - quickly, simply and CORRECTLY at a price you won't beat. Our online system can create the Section 21 notice
immediately after you fill out some basic information on the tenancy.
- How do I know whether I need a Section 21 or a Section 8 to evict a tenant?
Our system will help you make the right selection at the outset.
- Can I reprint the notices at a later date?
Yes, the Section 8 and Section 21 notices are stored on our system and can be re-created/printed at any date in the future at no cost to you.
- Are the Section 8 or Section 21 notices available for immediate download, printing and serving?
Yes, as soon as payment is made and you have completed the simple forms your notices are available immediately. We'll even tell you how to serve your notice in a foolproof manner.
- Why would I serve a Section 21 on a tenant who is just moving into my property?
At the end of a written Assured Shorthold Tenancy, your tenant is legally entitled (as long as they are gone by midnight on the last day of the tenancy) to leave without giving you any
notice at all. However you as the landlord have no such rights to get them out without notice. For you the end of the tenancy is not the date you can force them to go, but the earliest date
that you can start court proceedings to get them out (as long as they do not owe you more than 2 months' in unpaid rent).
There are many other reasons apart from 2 months' rent arrears that you might want a tenant out at the end of the tenancy. For example: it was only ever going to be a short let. You want to move back in
yourself. The tenants have upset the neighbours or damaged the property etc.
A tenant at move in will sign anything. A tenant at move in cannot deny having received a notice, especially if you get them to sign a form acknowledging receipt of the notice. The notice
stays in effect until it is rescinded in writing or a new tenancy is issued. You do not have to act on the notice should the tenancy go well. Most importantly, if things do not
go well during the first 6 months you can action the notice immediately on the end of the 6 month period rather than serve a notice
at the end of the tenancy and have to wait 2 more months to action the notice (which is the legal timeframe).
- Can the section notice be used in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No! The section 21 and section 8 process is for England and Wales only.
- I have issued my tenants a weekly tenancy. Why do you issue weekly Section 8 notices but not weekly Section 21 notices.
Weekly Section 8 notice are very straightforward whereas weekly Section 21 notices are not. There are too many avenues of complication with notice expiry dates on weekly tenancies - especially if their duration is
specified in months and they are of a periodic nature - for our current system to cope with. We are working on a more complex algorithm to
cope with weekly Section 1s and we hope to have this ready in the near future.
- Can the section notice be used for other types of tenancy?
You should only use them for Assured Shorthold Tenancies, and for the Section 8 only an Assured Shorthld Tenancy that is paid annually, quarterly, monthly, 2 weekly or weekly. If the
rent is paid in another timescale (such as 4 weekly, 6 monthly or per University term length) then the judge is likely to reject the notice as the grounds not cover those time-frames.
- When does a tenant become 2 months' "in arrears" and when is the soonest I can serve a Section 8?
The law states that MORE THAN 2 months rent MUST BE UNPAID for monthly paid rent and MORE THAN 8 weeks rent MUST BE UNPAID for weekly paid tenancies. This does NOT mean you have to wait a full
2 months or 8 weeks. AS LONG AS your tenancy agreement stipulates rent is paid in advance (most do) then rent is legally due on the first day of every rent month, starting from the first
day of the tenancy. This means that, for a monthly paying tenancy, more than 2 months' rent is unpaid 1 month and 1 day apart. Let me explain this with an example to make it absolutely clear: Your tenant moves in on
the 10th January (his tenancy also starts on that date) and pays you the first month's rent. His next payment is due on the 10th February but he doesn't pay. His next payment is due 10th March but he doesn't
pay. 2 months' rent is now unpaid, but the law is that MORE THAN 2 months' rent is unpaid. On the 11th March (presuming he doesn't pay anything) 2 months' and 1 day's worth of rent is unpaid, so you can
now serve your Section 8 notice. This is important to understand as it allows you to legally start eviction proceedings based on a Section 8 notice much sooner that if you wait for 2 months to be fully
'in arrears' (i.e. when the 3rd month without payment comes around).
- How should I serve the notice on my tenants?
You should only ever post the notice 1st class mail by going into the Post Office, giving it to the counter clerk and asking for a stamped proof of postage. Using this method your notice
will be deemed by the court to have been delivered 2 days after it was posted, regardless of whether the tenant actually received it then or not and regardless of whether they deny receipt. You must NEVER send your notice
by any form of recorded delivery because if the tenant refuses to sign for it then the court will not accept it as delivered and your claim will be thrown out. Hand delivery is also best avoided as it requires witnesses (who may have
to attend court) in case the tenant tries to deny receiving it.