What Is a Section 8 Notice for HMO Landlords?
A Section 8 notice for HMO landlords is a Notice Seeking Possession served under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 on an individual tenant in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). It is the first compulsory legal step before applying to the county court for a possession order against that specific tenant. From 1 May 2026, all Section 8 notices must be served on Form 3A — the old Form 3 is no longer legally valid.
Unlike a Section 21 notice — which was abolished across England from 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 — a Section 8 notice requires the landlord to identify a specific ground for possession from Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988. For HMO landlords, the most commonly relevant grounds are rent arrears (Ground 8, 8A, 10, 11) and antisocial behaviour or nuisance affecting other tenants (Ground 7A and Ground 14).
The key HMO distinction: where each tenant in your HMO holds their own individual room tenancy, a Section 8 notice is served on that specific tenant only. Other tenants in the same property are completely unaffected — their tenancies continue independently. This is one of the most important practical differences between HMO and single-let possession proceedings.
🏛 Legal basis
Section 8 notices for HMO tenants are governed by Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 and Schedule 2, as amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. HMO licensing is governed separately by Part 7 of the Housing Act 2004. England only — Wales has separate legislation under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.