Facing Eviction in Newcastle?
You have rights. You are not alone. We fight back together.
Food & Solidarity Newcastle has stopped evictions in Newcastle. We've sat with tenants at council offices, picketed letting agents, and been there when bailiffs arrived. We know how landlords operate and what makes them back down. Here's what to do when you get a notice. Read about how we organise if you want to understand the approach.
Immediate Steps If You've Received an Eviction Notice
- Do not leave your home. Most evictions require a court order. A notice is not an order. You do not have to go anywhere until a court says so.
- Call us: 07393 101018. The sooner you contact us, the more options we have. We respond within 48 hours. Call directly for anything urgent.
- Gather your documents. Find your tenancy agreement, the eviction notice, any letters or emails to or from your landlord, your deposit protection certificate, and your gas safety certificate if you have it.
- Do not sign anything the landlord or their agent sends you, including agreements to leave voluntarily, without getting advice first.
- Check which type of notice you have. Any Section 21 served on or after 1 May 2026 is void. If it was served before that date, check its technical validity: many contain errors that make them challengeable. All current evictions must now use Section 8 grounds.
- Come to a member meeting so we can plan together. You do not have to face this alone.
Section 21 Is Abolished. Know What Replaces It.
Since 1 May 2026, Section 8 is the only lawful eviction route. Notices of both types are frequently invalid and can be challenged.
Section 21 No-Fault Eviction
Section 21 is gone. Any notice served on or after 1 May 2026 is void. Notices served before that date can still be used in court until 31 July 2026, but were frequently invalid if:
- Your deposit was not protected in a government scheme
- You were not given a gas safety certificate
- You were not given an EPC
- You were not given the 'How to Rent' guide
- It was served after you reported disrepair (revenge eviction)
- The notice period or wording was incorrect
Section 8 Grounds-Based Eviction
Your landlord must state specific legal grounds, most often rent arrears, wanting to sell, or moving in themselves. Also frequently invalid if:
- The stated grounds are incorrect or exaggerated
- The notice period is wrong (minimum 4 weeks for most grounds)
- Arrears were caused by housing benefit delays
- You can clear arrears before the court hearing
- The correct form has not been used
The Renters' Rights Act: What Changed on 1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. Food & Solidarity and allied organisations campaigned for this for years. Abolishing Section 21 matters. But evictions have not ended, and landlords will test the new grounds hard. Tenants who know their rights are in the strongest position.
What actually changed
- Section 21 abolished. Landlords can no longer evict without a legal reason. All evictions must now go through Section 8.
- Periodic tenancies. Fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies are gone. All tenancies are now rolling. You can leave with two months' notice, no penalties.
- No DSS / no children bans outlawed. Landlords cannot discriminate against tenants receiving benefits or with children.
- Rent increases restricted. Landlords can only raise rent once per year via a Section 13 notice. You can challenge the amount at tribunal for £47.
- Bidding wars banned. Landlords cannot accept or encourage offers above the advertised rent.
- Landlord ombudsman. A new independent body to help resolve disputes without going to court.
What it doesn't fix
- Rent is still not controlled. Landlords can raise rents to unaffordable levels, using rent hikes as a de facto eviction. This is why Food & Solidarity and the Homes for Us Alliance continue to demand rent control.
- New Section 8 grounds can be exploited. The grounds allowing landlords to evict to sell or move a family member in are new and largely untested. Enforcement remains weak.
- Tenants who know their rights still matter. Laws only work when people know them and use them.
Read our full analysis: A Victory, Not the End and what the Renters' Rights Act means specifically for Newcastle tenants.
How Long Does an Eviction Take?
The eviction process takes months, not days. Understanding the stages means knowing how much time you have.
- Notice served. Section 8 notice periods vary: a minimum of 4 weeks for most grounds. Check the ground stated on any notice you receive against the required notice period.
- Validity check. Before the notice period expires, check whether it is legally valid. An invalid notice stops the process entirely.
- Possession claim issued. If you do not leave after the notice period, your landlord must apply to court. This takes additional weeks to months.
- Court hearing. You will be notified. You can attend and challenge the claim. Judges consider hardship and vulnerability. Landlord procedural mistakes can defeat claims entirely.
- Possession order. If granted, this is not yet the end. Your landlord still cannot remove you.
- Bailiff warrant. Only after a possession order can the landlord apply for a warrant. Only then can bailiffs legally attend. Even then you have rights.
From notice to bailiff is typically six months or more. Courts are overloaded and landlords frequently make procedural mistakes. Use this time to build your case and get support. Read about the broader eviction crisis in Newcastle and what Food & Solidarity has won.
How Food & Solidarity Helps
- Notice checks: We go through your notice and documents with you. Many eviction notices, Section 21 and Section 8, contain errors and can be challenged immediately.
- Know your rights: We explain the eviction process step by step, including what bailiffs are and are not allowed to do and what the Renters' Rights Act means for your specific situation.
- Collective action: We bring members and supporters together around individual cases. That has meant letters to landlords, public pressure campaigns, and being physically present when bailiffs arrived.
- Landlords back down: We've seen it happen with Jan Forster Estates, Newcastle City Council, and Mears. That's what happens when tenants aren't facing it alone.
- Disrepair and revenge evictions: If your eviction followed a complaint about disrepair, the notice may be a revenge eviction and invalid. Read our housing disrepair guide.
Real Cases: Evictions We've Stopped
Section 21 revenge eviction Newcastle West End 2023/24
Member Sarah was served a Section 21 notice just before Christmas 2023 after reporting dangerous disrepair to letting agent Jan Forster Estates: a water leak affecting bathroom electrics, sewage issues, and serious damp and mould. Food & Solidarity members mobilised immediately, picketing the Gosforth office in Halloween costumes, running a Christmas stall outside their door, and meeting directly with the managing director. When the agents threatened legal action, members did not back down.
The outcome: Jan Forster Estates had failed to protect Sarah's deposit within the legal timeframe. Their failure invalidated the original eviction notice and forced them to return her deposit. Sarah stayed through Christmas and left on her own terms, more than six months after the original notice.
Read Sarah's full story | What to do if your landlord threatens legal action
Council eviction administrative error Newcastle 2025
Dennis and his son faced eviction by Newcastle City Council, not because they had done anything wrong, but because the council made mistakes in their case and moved to force them out rather than fix them. On May Day 2025, Food & Solidarity members gathered in Leazes Park for an emergency training session: studying the law, role-playing bailiff encounters, and mapping collective response. Demands were issued to the council: stop the eviction, offer a secure tenancy, and apologise.
Disabled tenant community defence Newcastle
Pauline, a disabled grandmother, faced eviction from her home. Food & Solidarity ran urgent training covering how to resist bailiff actions, what legal steps can stop an eviction, and the roles needed. Members built a WhatsApp group for real-time updates and prepared to act together. Because of that readiness, Pauline was able to move to a new property with emotional and practical backing from members.
Read about Pauline's case | More on Food & Solidarity's eviction victories
Mears refugee evictions North East 2023
Private housing company Mears was evicting refugees into homelessness with just seven days' notice after asylum claims were granted. Food & Solidarity members organised protests outside Mears' offices in Darlington and applied sustained public pressure. The Home Office reversed its seven-day eviction policy, restoring the 28-day move-on period.
Your Rights as a Tenant in Newcastle
- Your landlord must go through the courts to evict you. Changing locks or removing your belongings without a court order is illegal eviction and a criminal offence.
- You have the right to challenge an eviction notice and to attend a possession hearing.
- You have the right to live in a safe, warm home. Landlords are responsible for repairs to heating, plumbing, electrics, and conditions affecting health.
- If you reported disrepair before receiving an eviction notice, the notice may be a revenge eviction and invalid. Read our housing disrepair guide.
- Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026. Any notice served on or after that date is void. Pre-May notices can only be used until 31 July 2026. All current evictions must use Section 8 grounds. Full guide to your rights
For the political context, why evictions are the result of deliberate policy and not individual bad luck, read The Fight Against Evictions: the power of collective action and Rent is an Engine of Poverty.
If Bailiffs Arrive
Bailiffs can only attend after both a possession order and a bailiff warrant have been granted by the court. On a first visit in most circumstances, they cannot force entry. Check their ID and the court order carefully. The name, address, and amounts must all be correct.
Our full bailiff rights guide covers exactly what bailiffs can and cannot do, what items they cannot take, and how to challenge unlawful action. Read it before they arrive, not after. Food & Solidarity members have trained together in bailiff resistance, including role-playing encounters and mapping collective response plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately if I receive an eviction notice?
Call us on 07393 101018. Do not leave your home. Gather your tenancy agreement, the notice, and any correspondence with your landlord. Most evictions require a court order. You likely have more time than you think.
Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026. What does that mean for me?
Any Section 21 notice served on or after 1 May 2026 is void. If your landlord served one before that date, they can still attempt to use it in court until 31 July 2026. After that, all Section 21 notices are permanently invalid. If you received a Section 21 at any point, call us. Many notices contain technical errors that make them challengeable regardless of the date. Full Renters' Rights Act guide
What does the Renters' Rights Act mean for me?
Since 1 May 2026, landlords cannot evict you without a recognised legal reason. Section 21 is gone. All evictions must use Section 8 grounds. Fixed-term tenancies are replaced by rolling periodic tenancies. You can leave on two months' notice with no penalty. Rent increases are restricted to once a year and can be challenged at tribunal. But rent is still not controlled, and new Section 8 selling and moving-in grounds could be exploited. Full guide to the Renters' Rights Act | Our analysis of what it does and doesn't change
Can a Section 21 notice be challenged?
Any Section 21 served on or after 1 May 2026 is automatically void. Notices served before that date can still be used in court until 31 July 2026, but are frequently invalid: if the landlord did not protect your deposit, did not provide a gas safety certificate or EPC, did not give you the How to Rent guide, or served the notice after you reported disrepair. In Sarah's case, the landlord's own failure to protect her deposit voided the entire notice. Call us before assuming any notice is valid.
What is a revenge eviction?
A revenge eviction is when a landlord serves an eviction notice after a tenant reports disrepair or makes a complaint. Under Section 21, abolished on 1 May 2026, such notices were automatically invalid. This is what happened to Sarah after she reported dangerous conditions to Jan Forster Estates. Read her story.
How long does an eviction take?
Typically six months or more from notice to bailiff. Notice period, possession claim, court hearing, possession order, and bailiff warrant are all separate stages. Courts are overloaded. Landlords make procedural mistakes. Call us early: the sooner we're involved, the more options you have.
What can I do if bailiffs arrive?
Call us immediately on 07393 101018. Keep your door locked. In most cases on a first visit, bailiffs cannot force entry. Read our full bailiff rights guide. It covers what they can and cannot take and how to challenge unlawful action.
Can you help if my landlord is Newcastle City Council?
Yes. We supported Dennis when Newcastle City Council attempted to evict him due to their own administrative errors. We ran bailiff resistance training, issued demands, and forced them to reverse course. Read Dennis's case.
What if my eviction follows housing disrepair?
If you reported disrepair and then received an eviction notice, that notice may be a revenge eviction and legally invalid. Housing disrepair guide. Call 07393 101018 immediately.
Do I need to be a member to get help?
No. We provide emergency support to anyone in crisis. Membership from £3 a month gives you ongoing access to food parcels, collective support, and a democratic community that organises together. We will never turn anyone away.
Get Support Now
Your landlord hopes you feel isolated and scared. Your community, if organised, ensures you are neither.
📞
07393 101018
call for urgent support
📍
120-126 Buckingham St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5QR
✉️ organiser@foodandsolidarity.org
Additional Resources
- Shelter Eviction Advice England: free comprehensive housing legal advice
- Citizens Advice Newcastle: 0808 278 7868
- Shelter Housing Advice Line: 0808 800 4444
- Newcastle City Council Homelessness Prevention: 0191 278 7878
- Renters' Rights Act: what it means for Newcastle tenants
- A Victory, Not the End: our analysis of the Renters' Rights Act
- Section 21 eviction full guide
- Section 8 eviction full guide
- Bailiff rights guide: what to do when enforcement agents arrive
- Housing disrepair guide: reporting and escalating disrepair in Newcastle
- Direct action: what it means and what it has won
- The Fight Against Evictions: campaign history and wins
- Rent is an Engine of Poverty
- Food & Solidarity FAQs: membership, food parcels, housing support
Page last updated: May 2026. Reflects Renters' Rights Act in force from 1 May 2026.