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

Different eviction notices use different prescribed forms. Using the wrong form usually invalidates the notice. This comparison shows when each applies.

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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
Future under Renters' Rights Act	Will be abolished	Continues 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.

Related guides

Section 21 Notice Explained

A Section 21 notice is a formal notice from your landlord requiring you to leave the property. Unlike a Section 8 notice, it does not require the landlord to give a reason. However, there are strict rules your landlord must follow before serving a valid Section 21 notice, and the Renters' Rights Act 2025 is abolishing this route entirely.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.