Website and telephone payments Sunday 19 May
Our website and telephone payment systems are unavailable between 9am and 2pm on Sunday 19 May. You will not be able to pay for any council services on our website or over the phone during this time.
The majority of private rented tenants are assured shorthold tenants. They can only be evicted in certain circumstances.
If you let a property for a fixed period of time such as six months (a fixed term tenancy), your tenant can only be evicted during the fixed term if you have a legal reason, or grounds to do so. This could be due to many reasons, including anti-social behaviour or non-payment of rent. You must give correct notice, which can be either 14 days or two months, depending on the reason you are using and then obtain a possession order.
Following the fixed period your tenant becomes a periodic tenant and you do not need a ground to evict your tenant. However, you still have to follow the correct process, which is usually a two month written notice followed by a possession order.
You may have an assured tenant if your tenant moved into your current property prior to 1997 and received a notice stating that they are an assured tenant.
You can only evict your tenant if you can prove a reason, or ground, to the court.
Your tenant is likely to be an occupier with basic protection if:
If your tenant is a fixed-term occupier, you can apply to the court for a possession order after the end of the fixed term. There is no need for you to give you notice.
If you have a periodic occupier, you must give your tenant a written notice and then apply for a possession order before your tenant can be evicted. You do not have to give a reason but must usually give them at least four weeks’ notice.
You have an excluded occupier if you share living accommodation with your tenant.
An excluded occupier can be evicted without having to go to court.