Got an eviction notice?
Find out what help you can get if you live in rented accommodation in Liverpool and have been given an eviction notice.
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The advice on this page is for anyone with either a shorthold tenancy or assured tenancy. This generally means that you rent from a private landlord, don’t live with your landlord, and started renting on or after 15th January 1989.
Can my landlord evict me?
You can only be evicted if your landlord:
- gives you a valid eviction notice
- gets a possession order from court if you haven't left by the date on the eviction notice
- applies to the court for a warrant of possession if you haven't left by the date on the possession order
If the court issues a warrant of possession, bailiffs can make you leave your home. They’ll give you 14 days’ notice to move out.
If your landlord hasn't followed the proper steps, you might be able to challenge the eviction and stay in your home.
Is my eviction notice valid?
Your landlord must give you a valid notice if they want you to leave. A notice is only valid if it:
- gives you enough time — landlords must, by law, give a minimum of 8 weeks’ notice.
- is given on the correct form — form 6A for a Section 21 notice, or form 3 for a Section S8 notice.
- has the correct information on it — if a word is spelt incorrectly or the dates are wrong, it may mean the notice is not valid.
Check if your notice is valid (Shelter.org.uk)
In Liverpool, landlords who rent in certain area of the city must also have a licence. If they should be licensed and are not, an eviction notice will be invalid. Check our licensing register.
What you can do
If you have an eviction notice, please contact either Shelter or Citizens Advice for free legal advice using the links below.
How we can help
If you have already sought free legal advice from either Shelter or Citizens Advice, and they tell you to contact us, please make an online housing referral.
The sooner we know about an eviction notice the better, so we can speak to your landlord and try to ensure you can stay in your home. [Amended but left the above par you had deleted in as I am unsure if we saying the first port of call should be a referral rather than free legal advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice?]
When to call the police
Private landlords can sometimes pressure you to leave their property. Contact the police if your landlord:
- issues threats or is physically violent
- cuts services like electricity or gas
- withholds a set of keys — for instance, only gives one set of keys between two tenants
- refuses to carry out repairs
- moves in a friend of theirs next door who commits anti-social behaviour