A landlord has been fined £3,600 for serving a Section 21 notice. Here is what happened
Gateshead Council has confirmed its first concluded fine under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, and it was for something many landlords may not realise is now off limits: serving a Section 21 notice.
What happened in Gateshead
According to the council's own announcement on 20 October 2026, a landlord was fined £3,600 for serving a Section 21 notice after 1 May 2026, the date these notices could no longer be used. The landlord paid within 28 days, qualified for a 15% discount and paid £3,060.
The council says it first issued a notice setting out the proposed fine so the landlord could respond. The final notice was issued on 24 August 2026 and payment arrived on 8 September. Its Private Sector Housing team also explained the change in the law to the landlord and pointed them to the correct legal routes if they still wanted possession.
The council said: "Our aim is to help landlords understand their responsibilities and comply with the law. However, where breaches of housing legislation are identified, we will take appropriate enforcement action."
It also said this is its first financial penalty under the new law to have concluded, and that other cases are being considered.
Why it matters to every landlord in England
Since 1 May 2026, tenancies in the private rented sector in England are periodic, and Section 21 "no fault" notices have gone. To regain possession a landlord now needs a valid possession ground. Read our guide to Section 21 being abolished for the background.
The Gateshead case is a reminder that old templates and old habits are now a real risk. A notice that was routine two years ago can now lead to a fine.
Three practical checks
- Bin old notice templates. If you keep a Section 21 template on file, remove it so it cannot be sent by mistake.
- Know your grounds. If you need a property back, start from the possession grounds that now apply. Our guide to rent arrears and Ground 8 covers one of the most common.
- Keep proof of what you served and when. See serving notices and proof of service.
If you are unsure what applies to your own tenancy, take advice from a solicitor or your council's housing team before serving anything.
The next change: the PRS database
Councils are stepping up enforcement, and the PRS database is next. It opens on 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands, and every landlord letting in England must be registered by 14 November 2027. Check your region's registration deadline.
Keep your records in one place
LandlordProof gives you one place for your certificates, documents and reminders, so nothing slips when the rules change. It is free for your first property.
Start free →LandlordProof helps you organise your certificates, documents and reminders. Using it does not by itself meet your legal duties as a landlord, and it does not register you on the PRS database.
Sources: Gateshead Council, 20 October 2026; House of Commons Library, Renters' reform in England.