Regain control of your property quickly and efficiently.
If you intend to sell a tenanted property in England, Section 8 Ground 1A gives you a mandatory route to possession, provided the statutory requirements are met. Ground 1A was introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. It allows a private landlord to seek possession because they genuinely intend to sell the dwelling house.
Getting the process right from the outset matters. Errors in the notice, the notice period or the supporting evidence can delay possession, disrupt the planned sale and give the tenant grounds to challenge the claim. Landlords must:
- Use the correct Section 8 notice;
- Calculate the notice period accurately;
- Be able to prove their intention to sell if the tenant stays and a court claim becomes necessary.
Relying on Ground 1A also triggers a restricted period on reletting and marketing the property to let. It starts when the notice is served and lasts at least 16 months.
AST Assistance works exclusively with landlords. We can:
- Assess whether Ground 1A applies;
- Prepare and serve the notice;
- Manage communications with the tenant;
- Support the possession process through to court and enforcement, working with our nominated SRA-regulated solicitors where required.
Our approach to Section 8 Ground 1A
AST Assistance takes a structured, landlord-focused approach to Ground 1A possession claims. Our aim is to help you regain possession lawfully, so you can progress the intended sale without avoidable delays caused by incorrect paperwork, unsuitable grounds or missed deadlines.
We begin by reviewing the current tenancy and the circumstances of the proposed sale. This tells us three things: whether Ground 1A is available, whether the tenancy is still within its 12-month protected period, and what notice period must be given. We also review the evidence of your genuine intention to sell, so that the possession route rests on evidence from the outset.
Depending on the package you choose, AST Assistance can:
- Review whether Ground 1A applies to the current tenancy.
- Calculate the protected period and the notice expiry date.
- Prepare the correct Section 8 notice using the prescribed Form 3A.
- Serve the notice and keep evidence of service.
- Manage communication with the tenant during the notice period.
- Review the evidence of your genuine intention to sell.
- Coordinate possession proceedings with our nominated SRA-regulated solicitors if the tenant stays in occupation.
- Support the case through the court hearing, with representation provided by our nominated solicitors.
- Coordinate enforcement if a possession order is granted but the tenant does not leave.
- Advise on the restricted period that follows the use of Ground 1A.
Ground 1A is a mandatory ground, but a landlord seeking possession still has to prove that the legal requirements are met. If the notice is defective or the ground does not apply, the claim may be delayed or fail. Getting the position right before notice is served protects both your possession strategy and your sale.
Step 1 - Take control
We take charge of the initial Ground 1A process, removing the administrative burden of regaining possession before a planned sale.
This may include:
- Reviewing the tenancy to establish whether Ground 1A is available.
- Checking the 12-month protected period and calculating the correct notice period.
- Reviewing the evidence of your genuine intention to sell the dwelling house.
- Drafting and serving the Section 8 Ground 1A notice in line with the statutory requirements.
- Managing communications with the tenant while the notice is in force.
Step 2 - Take action
If the tenant is still in occupation once the notice period ends, we work with our nominated SRA-regulated solicitors to bring a possession claim. At this stage we will arrange:
- Preparation of court paperwork: making sure the possession claim and supporting legal documents are completed accurately.
- Review of supporting evidence: preparing the documents needed to show that Ground 1A applies and that your intention to sell is genuine.
- Issuing the claim: once you have approved it, our nominated solicitors will file the possession claim with the court.
Step 3 - Take it to Court
When a possession claim is issued, the court lists a hearing. Our nominated solicitors manage the legal process on your behalf, including:
- Preparing and presenting the evidence needed to support the Ground 1A claim.
- Responding to challenges about the validity of the notice, your intention to sell or whether the statutory requirements have been met.
- Dealing with queries raised by the tenant or the court.
- Representing you at the hearing.
Step 4 - Gain possession
If the court grants a possession order and the tenant is still in the property after the date specified, we coordinate the lawful enforcement process. This may involve:
- Our nominated solicitors requesting a warrant of possession from the court.
- Arranging attendance at the eviction appointment carried out by county court bailiffs.
- Coordinating enforcement so there is no direct confrontation between you and the tenant.
- Keeping you informed until vacant possession is recovered, so you can move ahead with the sale.
At every stage, AST Assistance manages the case to minimise avoidable delay and keep it compliant. By combining our tenancy expertise with our nominated solicitors' legal work, we give landlords a clear, structured route to recovering possession when they genuinely intend to sell.
Section 8 Ground 1A packages
Stage one packages - fees starting from £70 |
|
Services |
Description |
| Bronze | AST Assistance will draft a Ground 1A Section 8 notice tailored to your circumstances and intention to sell. We will send the completed notice to you for approval, ready for you to serve on your tenant. |
| Silver | We will review the tenancy, protected period, notice period and the evidence of your intention to sell before drafting the Ground 1A notice, ready for you to serve. |
| Gold | We will review the tenancy and relevant documents, prepare and serve the notice on your behalf, and manage communication with the tenant until the notice period has ended. |
Additional packages - fees starting from £250 |
|
Stages |
Description |
| Stage two | Our nominated solicitors will review the notice and supporting evidence, prepare the possession claim and file it with the court once you have approved it. |
| Stage three | Our nominated solicitors will prepare for the possession hearing and arrange representation, including where the tenant defends the claim. |
| Stage four | If the tenant stays after a possession order has been granted, our nominated solicitors will request the warrant of possession. We will manage the attendance arrangements and communication. |
| Completion | File closure administration and filing fee. |
Negotiated possession support - fees starting from £250 |
|
Services |
Description |
| Mediation letter | We will prepare a professional letter opening discussions with the tenant about an agreed surrender, while preserving the formal Ground 1A route if agreement cannot be reached. |
| Full negotiated possession service | We will manage correspondence with the tenant and work towards an orderly, documented surrender where possible, helping you progress the sale without unnecessary court action. |
Why use AST Assistance for a Ground 1A eviction?
A Ground 1A possession claim is ultimately about a commercial objective: recovering the property lawfully so that you can go ahead with the sale. An incorrect notice or a poorly prepared claim can get in the way of that objective.
AST Assistance works exclusively with landlords and understands the practical pressures involved when vacant possession is needed before a sale can move forward. Our Section 8 landlords' rights guide also explains how the wider possession process works under the current grounds-based system.
Depending on the package and the stage at which you instruct us, AST Assistance can help with:
- Reviewing the tenancy.
- Establishing whether Ground 1A applies.
- Checking notice and protected-period dates.
- Reviewing the evidence of your intention to sell.
- Preparing the possession notice.
- Serving the notice.
- Communicating with the tenant.
- Coordinating possession proceedings with our nominated SRA-regulated solicitors.
- Supporting you through the court process.
- Coordinating lawful enforcement where required.
- Advising on the restricted period after Ground 1A has been used.
This structured approach reduces the risk of procedural errors delaying possession, and gives landlords professional support through what can otherwise be a long and demanding process.
Start your Ground 1A possession process with AST Assistance
If you intend to sell your rental property and need vacant possession, getting advice before you serve notice can protect your planned sale from unnecessary delays.
AST Assistance can assess your tenancy, confirm whether Ground 1A is available and help you choose the right package for your circumstances.
If court proceedings or enforcement become necessary, we can continue supporting the possession process with our nominated solicitors, so you are not left to manage each stage on your own.
Call AST Assistance on 01706 619954 or complete our online contact form to discuss your Ground 1A possession requirements.
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