Form 6A vs Form 3 vs Form NLA: Eviction Notice Forms

Possession notices are prescribed documents, and the form used has to match the legal route being relied on. Get it wrong and the notice is usually invalid, which means starting again from the beginning. Two of these forms belong to the private rented sector and one to long leasehold, a different regime altogether. The picture changed on 1 May 2026, when Section 21 and its form were abolished in England. This comparison shows what each form is for, what notice period attaches, and what is left of each route.

Tip: scroll the table sideways to see all columns →

Feature	Form 6A	Form 3	Form NLA / N1
When used	Section 21 "no-fault" notice	Section 8 ground-based notice	Notice to long leaseholder (e.g. service charge arrears, forfeiture)
Tenancy type	Assured Shorthold only	AST and Assured Tenancy	Long lease (21+ years)
Notice period	4 months (since Oct 2021)	2 weeks to 2 months depending on ground	Varies — depends on lease and breach
Reason needed	No	Yes — cite specific ground (1-17)	Yes — specify breach
Court process	Accelerated possession (paper only)	Standard possession (hearing required)	County Court Money Claim or possession claim
Tenant defences	Procedural — wrong form, deposit not protected, no gas safety certificate	Disputing the ground; for discretionary grounds, hardship arguments	Disputing the breach; relief from forfeiture
Status under Renters' Rights Act 2025	Abolished on 1 May 2026 — can no longer be served	Now the only possession route, with expanded grounds	Unaffected (different regime)

For private rented sector, Form 6A and Form 3 cover the vast majority of notices. Long leaseholders facing forfeiture should also see Section 168 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 which adds a procedural step.

Check the form against the route

Only one of these forms is still live for private renting in England. Form 6A belonged to Section 21, which was abolished on 1 May 2026, so a notice on that form dated on or after that day has no effect at all. Form 3 is the Section 8 notice, and it is now the only route to possession of an assured tenancy — it must state the specific grounds relied on and give the notice period attaching to those grounds. Long leasehold is a separate regime entirely, with its own procedural steps before forfeiture can even be considered.

Tenants: check the form used, the date, the grounds stated and the notice period. Defects in any of these are the most common reason possession claims fail.
Landlords: use the current prescribed Form 3, cite every ground you intend to rely on, and calculate the notice period from the ground with the longest requirement.
Leaseholders: service charge and breach disputes have their own tribunal route, and a determination is normally needed before forfeiture is available.

The mistake tenants make is treating any official-looking notice as the end of the matter. It is not an eviction. Only a court order, enforced by bailiffs, ends your right to occupy, and leaving early can affect the council's homelessness duty towards you.

The mistake landlords make is serving a notice quickly to apply pressure. A defective notice wastes months and hands the tenant a complete defence.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a possession notice invalid?

Common defects include using an out-of-date or wrong prescribed form, understating the notice period for the grounds cited, naming the wrong tenants or the wrong address, failing to state the grounds properly, and serving in a way the tenancy agreement does not permit. For assured tenancies, wider compliance failures can also matter. If you think the notice is defective, do not simply ignore it — get advice from Shelter or a housing solicitor so the point is raised properly at the hearing.

What can I do if my landlord tries to evict me without a court order?

Changing the locks, removing your belongings, cutting off utilities or intimidating you into leaving are potentially criminal offences under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, not merely bad behaviour. Contact your council's tenancy relations or housing standards team, who can intervene and prosecute, and call the police if you are being physically excluded. Keep evidence — photographs, messages, witness details. You may also have a civil claim for damages and an injunction to get back into the property.

How long do I have once a possession order is made?

An order normally specifies a date by which you must leave, commonly a short period after the hearing, and the court can extend it where there would be exceptional hardship. If you stay beyond that date the landlord must apply for a warrant and have bailiffs appointed, which adds further weeks. Use the time to apply to the council as homeless — do this before you leave, because presenting after you have gone can weaken the duty owed to you.

Does any of this apply outside England?

No. These forms and this legislation are English. Wales operates occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, with different notices and terminology. Scotland has private residential tenancies, with possession decided by the First-tier Tribunal on its own grounds, and Northern Ireland has separate rules again. If your property is not in England, do not rely on the forms or notice periods here — check the guidance for that nation or take local advice.

Related guides

Section 21 Notice Explained

A Section 21 notice was a formal notice from your landlord requiring you to leave the property. Unlike a Section 8 notice, it did not require the landlord to give a reason. There were strict rules landlords had to follow before serving a valid Section 21 notice, and the Renters' Rights Act 2025 abolished this route entirely on 1 May 2026.

8 min read

Section 8 Notice and Grounds for Possession

A Section 8 notice is used when a landlord wants to evict a tenant on specific legal grounds set out in the Housing Act 1988. Unlike a Section 21 notice, the landlord must prove a ground for possession. Some grounds are mandatory — meaning the court must grant possession if proved — while others are discretionary.

8 min read

Eviction Notice Basics

Receiving an eviction notice is alarming, but it is important to know that a notice alone does not mean you have to leave immediately. Landlords must follow a strict legal process — including obtaining a court possession order — before they can lawfully evict you. Many notices are defective and can be challenged.

7 min read

Leasehold and Service Charge Disputes

Owning a leasehold property means owning the property for a fixed term while the freehold — the land — is owned by someone else (the freeholder or landlord). Leaseholders pay ground rent (now largely abolished for new leases) and service charges for the maintenance and management of the building. Disputes about service charges, management quality, and lease terms are common, but leaseholders have legal rights and access to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to resolve them.

11 min

Disclaimer

The information on this page was correct at the time of writing. Amounts, thresholds, and rules may change. Always check the latest official guidance.