Notes from the file
Insights
Commentary on developments in residential and leasehold property, written for landlords, freeholders and management companies. Short, specific, and about the things that decide cases rather than the things that make headlines.
Ground 8 now needs three months, not two
The mandatory rent arrears ground has been reset. The threshold rose from two months to three, and the notice period doubled. Both change when a landlord can act.
Section 21 is gone. What actually changed on 1 May
Section 21 could last be served on 30 April 2026. On 1 May every assured shorthold tenancy converted to an assured periodic tenancy. The consequences run wider than evictions.
The information sheet, and the landlords who have not served it
From 31 May 2026 landlords must give tenants the government's Renters' Rights Act information sheet. It is a small obligation with a long shadow.
Twenty-seven weeks, and what it should change about your approach
Ministry of Justice figures put the median time from possession claim to repossession at 27.1 weeks. That number should govern how arrears are handled long before a claim is issued.
Standardised service charge demands are coming. Most blocks are not ready
The service charge transparency reforms will require standardised demand forms, annual reports and standardised accounts. The lead-in is twelve months, and it starts when the regulations land.