What is the deadline for old Section 21 notices?

31 July 2026. If your landlord served a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026 and hasn't applied to court by 31 July 2026, the notice expires completely and becomes unenforceable.

Under the transition rules in the Renters' Rights Act 2025, Section 21 notices served before 1 May 2026 were given a limited window. The landlord must file for a court possession order by 31 July 2026 — that's within six months of the earliest valid notices, and the hard cut-off for all of them.

If 31 July passes and your landlord hasn't gone to court, your tenancy continues as a normal assured periodic tenancy. The Section 21 notice is dead. Your landlord would need to start again using Section 8 with a stated legal ground.

Even if your landlord does apply to court before 31 July, you still don't have to leave immediately. The court process takes time, and a judge must grant the possession order.

If you're unsure whether your landlord has applied to court, you can check by contacting your local county court or by getting advice from Shelter England (Shelter's deadline guidance). Do not leave your home based on an expired notice.