Housing Act 1988: Primary legislation governing residential tenancies in England and Wales, including Section 21 (no-fault) and Section 8 (with grounds) eviction procedures, requiring minimum 2 months' notice period
Protection from Eviction Act 1977: Makes it a criminal offense to evict a tenant without following proper legal procedures or to harass them to leave. Reinforces that only court-appointed bailiffs can carry out evictions
Housing Act 1996: Updates and amends previous housing legislation, including provisions for possession proceedings and tenant protection measures
Deregulation Act 2015: Introduces additional requirements for Section 21 notices, including proper documentation and maintenance of the property, and timing restrictions on when notices can be served
Section 21 Notice Requirements: Mandatory minimum 2 months' notice period for no-fault evictions, requires proper format, valid EPC, gas safety certificate, and deposit protection compliance
Section 8 Notice Requirements: Variable notice periods depending on grounds for eviction (e.g., rent arrears, breach of tenancy). Must specify grounds and provide evidence
Court Possession Order: Mandatory requirement to obtain a court order before any eviction can take place, regardless of notice type or circumstances
Bailiff Enforcement: Only court-appointed bailiffs can legally remove tenants from property; self-help eviction by landlords is illegal
