Free tool · Possession
Ground 8 rent arrears checker
Since 1 May 2026, Ground 8 needs at least three months' rent unpaid, or 13 weeks' rent if it is due weekly or fortnightly, both on the day you serve the Section 8 notice and on the day of the court hearing. Enter the rent and what is owed to see where you stand.
The rules in plain English
- The line: at least three months' rent unpaid if rent is due monthly, or at least 13 weeks' rent if it is due weekly or fortnightly. Before 1 May 2026 it was two months or eight weeks.
- Twice over: the arrears must be at that level both on the day you serve the Section 8 notice and on the day of the hearing.
- Rent only: rent here means rent lawfully due from the tenant. Other money owed does not count.
- Universal Credit: if the tenant is entitled to the housing amount of Universal Credit, rent unpaid only because they have not yet received that payment is left out of the count.
- Mandatory: if you prove Ground 8, the court must make a possession order.
- Notice: at least 4 weeks, on Form 3A from GOV.UK's assured tenancy forms page. Court proceedings must start within 12 months of serving it.
- Grounds 10 and 11: some rent unpaid when you serve the notice and when proceedings begin (10), or rent persistently paid late (11). Both are discretionary, with 4 weeks' notice.
- Other rent periods: for rent due quarterly or yearly the test is one quarter's rent, or three months' rent, more than three months in arrears. Ground 8 does not name rent due every four weeks, so read the ground itself before relying on a figure. This tool covers weekly, fortnightly and monthly rent.
Sources, read on 28 October 2026: Housing Act 1988, Schedule 2, Ground 8 as amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025, Grounds 10 and 11, and section 8 (notice periods), on legislation.gov.uk. England only. Practical information, not legal advice.
Questions landlords ask
How much rent arrears do I need for Ground 8?
At least three months' rent if rent is due monthly, or 13 weeks' rent if it is due weekly or fortnightly. The arrears must be at that level both when you serve the notice and at the court hearing.
How much notice does Ground 8 need?
At least 4 weeks, on a Section 8 notice (Form 3A). Court proceedings must start within 12 months of the date you serve it.
What if the tenant pays some of the arrears before the hearing?
Ground 8 needs the arrears at the line on the day of the hearing too. If they have fallen below it, Ground 8 is not met; the court can still consider Grounds 10 and 11 if they are in the notice, and decides whether an order is reasonable.
Does rent unpaid because of Universal Credit count?
Not if it is unpaid only because the tenant has not yet received their Universal Credit payment. If the tenant is entitled to the housing amount of Universal Credit, that rent is left out of the count.
Is Ground 8 a mandatory ground?
Yes. If you prove it, the court must make a possession order. Grounds 10 and 11 are discretionary: the court decides whether an order is reasonable.
What was the Ground 8 line before 1 May 2026?
Two months' rent, or eight weeks' rent if paid weekly or fortnightly, with 2 weeks' notice. Since 1 May 2026 it is three months or 13 weeks, with 4 weeks' notice.
Taken from the rules and sources on this page. Page updated 28 October 2026.
Want the paperwork done properly? The RentRight Kit toolkits give you editable Word documents for England, in the order you use them: checklists, the tenancy agreement, letters and a filing log.