TRANSITION PAGE – CURRENT APPLICANTS
Section 8 Notice from 1 May 2026
If you issue a Section 8 Notice for a rental property in England on or after 1 May 2026, the new government Form 3A must be used. PIMS members can call the helpline and we will help you complete it correctly.
Court warning: if you do not include the legal wording, or it is incomplete or inaccurate, the notice may be invalid. That can lead to delay, extra cost and the claim having to start again.
This page is aimed at current applicants and transition cases. It is a practical support page, not a general Renters’ Rights presentation page.
Important checks before serving notice
Before serving a Section 8 Notice, make sure you are using the correct current form and the correct grounds. PIMS can help members complete the notice properly and avoid common errors.
Breathing Space warning: if the tenant is entitled to
Breathing Space for rent arrears, do not assume the usual Section 8 timetable applies. Call PIMS before serving notice.
Deposit warning: the updated Section 8 Notice does not remove the need to check deposit compliance. If there is any uncertainty about deposit protection, return, deductions or consent, call PIMS before serving notice.
Useful government links
The PIMS 3-step approach
1
Use the current Form 3A Do not rely on an old saved notice. The form has changed, and using the wrong version can invalidate the notice.
2
Attach a clear statement of account For rent arrears cases, attach a proper rent statement showing payable dates, amounts due, amounts received, dates received and the running balance.
3
Let PIMS check it before service Courts often reject Section 8 Notices for avoidable errors. Members can ask PIMS to review the notice before it is served.
England only – Section 8 rent arrears
| Rent Payable Date |
Amount Payable |
Amount Received |
Date Received |
Running Balance |
| 01/01/2024 |
£1000 |
£500 |
06/01/2024 |
- £500 |
| 01/02/2024 |
£1000 |
£0 |
- |
- £1500 |
| 01/03/2024 |
£1000 |
£0 |
- |
- £2500 |
| 01/04/2024 |
£1000 |
£1000 |
17/04/2024 |
- £2500 |
| 01/05/2024 |
£1000 |
£500 |
27/05/2024 |
- £2000 |
| 01/06/2024 |
£1000 |
£0 |
- |
- £3000 |
Prepare this as an Excel sheet. If you apply to court, the judge may want a longer rent statement so the conduct of the parties can be reviewed properly.
Question 4 is where many landlords make mistakes. Give the full text of each ground relied on. Keep the wording complete and accurate. Example wording for arrears:
As of 1 June 2024 arrears of rent total £3000, constituting 3 months 0 day(s) arrears. This continues to increase at a daily rate of £32.88.
Extra warnings
Important: only use the wizard to calculate figures. The form has changed, so relying on an old wizard-produced notice can create an invalid notice.
England and Wales differ: the legislation and forms are not the same. Members must specify whether the property is in England or Wales before producing a notice.
If in doubt, call the PIMS helpline before serving anything.