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For private landlords in England. This is self-help software. We are not a law firm, we are not regulated, and we do not give legal advice. You choose what to serve, and you complete, sign and serve the notice yourself.

Section 8 notice: Form 3A, notice periods by ground, earliest court date

Choose the grounds and the day of service, and we work out the earliest day court proceedings can begin (Form 3A question 2.1) and the last day we can confirm. The check is free and nothing you type leaves your browser.

Is the home in England?

Is the landlord a housing association or other social housing provider?

Is this a farm worker’s home let as an assured agricultural occupancy?

Is a section 21 or section 8 notice from before 1 May 2026 still running?

Which grounds are you using?

Other grounds are not worked out yet. Their notice periods are in the table below.

For example 1/9/2024 or 1 September 2024.

Have you been told the tenant is in a breathing space (Debt Respite Scheme)?

The day you hand it over or it is delivered. We do not work out postal delivery. Serve on the day you give here: the dates are counted from it, and ground 8 must be met on the day you actually serve. If the day changes, run the check again. For example 1/9/2024 or 1 September 2024.

Notice periods by ground

Housing Act 1988 section 8(4) and (4AA), read 11 November 2026
GroundsNotice period “beginning with the date of service”
1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2ZA, 2ZB, 2ZC, 2ZD, 4A, 6, 6A, 6Bfour months
5, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5H, 7, 9two months
5E, 5F, 5G, 8, 10, 11, 18four weeks
4, 7B, 12, 13, 14ZA, 14A, 15, 17two weeks
7A, 14no notice period

Where a notice uses more than one ground, the longest of their periods applies.

What makes a Form 3A invalid

What a wrong notice can cost

Serving a document that claims to be a section 8 notice but does not meet section 8 can bring a penalty from the council of up to £7,000 (Housing Act 1988, sections 16E, 16I and 16M).

Sources

Last read: 11 November 2026.