The situation
Margaret, 64, lets out the flat she used to live in for £850 a month. The tenant paid on time for a year, then stopped. Three months later £2,975 is owed. She has never been to court and is worried about getting it wrong.
What she did
- Put the rent record straight. In the Rent Arrears Tracker she logged each month’s rent and each payment, giving a dated running balance: the rent schedule a possession claim usually needs.
- Checked the Ground 8 test. In the Section 8 Eviction & Possession Checklist she entered the rent and the arrears. £2,975 against a threshold of £2,550: above it on that day, but a single payment could change that, so she noted Grounds 10 and 11 as something to ask her solicitor about.
- Worked through the evidence list. Tenancy agreement, deposit certificate and prescribed information, reminder letters, a note on Universal Credit, gas safety and EPC, each marked “In hand” with where it is kept.
- Locked and printed the pack. Locking recorded the date and a fingerprint. The PDF carries the printed date on every page.
- Took it to a solicitor with the questions the checklist suggested.
Where the tools fit, and where her solicitor fits
| What the tools helped her do | What stayed with her solicitor |
|---|---|
| Keep a dated rent record with a running balance | Whether serving a notice was the right step for her |
| Work through the Ground 8 figures and key dates | Which grounds fit her situation, and the wording and dates in Form 3A |
| Gather, date and lock her paperwork | Starting the court claim and speaking for her at the hearing |
The tools are there to make that conversation easier and quicker to start, not to replace it.
Questions landlords ask
Is this a real case?
No. It is an illustrative example with made-up figures to show how the tools fit together.
Does the checklist tell you whether to evict?
No. It explains how the grounds usually work and helps you gather records. Decisions about your case are for you and your solicitor.
Can I use these tools instead of a solicitor?
No. They help you organise and date your records so a first conversation with a solicitor can focus on your situation. Advice on notices, grounds and court stays with your solicitor.
How long can the court part take?
Every case is different. Government figures for April to June 2026 put the median time from a landlord’s court claim to repossession at 27.1 weeks, and that comes after the notice period.
Sources
- Shelter England (legal): mandatory grounds from 1 May 2026 (checked 18 Oct 2026)
- Civil Procedure Rules: Practice Direction 55A (checked 18 Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Justice: mortgage and landlord possession statistics, April to June 2026 (checked 18 Oct 2026)