If you’re being evicted by the council or housing association
You don’t have to leave your home straight away if you’ve got a notice from your local council or housing association - this is called a ‘notice seeking possession’.
Your landlord has to follow a process before they can evict you and this will take some time - depending on the reason your landlord is using to evict you.
What your landlord has to do
The exact process your landlord has to follow depends on your tenancy type, but they’ll usually have to:
- give you a written notice explaining why you’re being asked to leave and when they want you to leave
- apply to the court for a ‘possession order’ if you haven’t left by the date on your notice
- go to a hearing where the court will decide whether to issue a ‘possession order’
- apply to the court to get a ‘warrant of possession’ if you haven’t left by the date on your possession order - they’ll then send the bailiffs to your home to evict you
What you can do to challenge the eviction
There are steps you can take to try to stay in your home.
You might only need to do some of these steps - it’ll depend what stage you’re at in the eviction process.
If you want to challenge your eviction
You might be able to challenge your eviction if your landlord has discriminated against you, for example if they're evicting you:
- because of who you are
- in a way that’s more difficult for you compared with other people
- for a reason that's connected to your disability
- because you complained about discrimination before
If any of these apply to you, you should check if your housing problem is discrimination.
Step 1: You’ve got a notice from your landlord
Step 2: You’ve got a letter from the court
Step 3: You’re preparing to go to court
Step 4: You’re going to court for your eviction hearing
Contact your nearest Citizens Advice. They might be able to help you negotiate with your landlord or challenge your eviction.