Need to know

• 36% of UK households rent, meaning housing law is a core issue for high street solicitors.

• There are two key eviction notices all housing solicitors must understand; s.8 and s.21 eviction notices.

• Bailiffs enforce possession orders once the court grants them, ensuring landlords can legally reclaim property.

Welcome to TSL’s Weekly Edge, whether you’re aiming for a regional or high-street practice, or just want to get a feel for how law works in the real world beyond textbooks, you’re in the right place. 

No corporate jargon, no massive deals, just real useful information designed to give you that extra edge in your legal journey.

🧠Wilson’s Weekly Wisdom

Feeling lost at Uni? You’re not alone. It’s not failure, it’s feedback.

When I was at university, there were moments I genuinely thought I’d taken a wrong turn. I’d look around at people who seemed to have it all figured out; perfect grades, great work experience lined up and had already studied law at A-level, and I’d just feel…stuck.

I wasn’t failing. But I wasn’t flying either. And no one really talks about that, the blurry middle ground where you’re doing “okay” on paper but still feel completely off-track.

Here’s what I’ve learned: it’s a sign something needs tweaking, not quitting. Whether it’s changing your study habits, exploring a different area of law, or just giving yourself permission to ask questions, it’s allowing yourself to have clarity.

And if you’re in that fog right now, take this as your reminder: even the most confident-looking solicitor once sat in your seat wondering if they were cut out for it. Keep going. You’re not off-track, you’re just finding your own.

💡Spotlight Article

Did you know that about 36% of households in the UK rent their homes, either privately or through councils and housing associations? 

That’s over a third of the country!

If you’re renting, you’re a tenant. If you’re letting the property out, you’re a landlord. Everything’s usually written up in a tenancy agreement, but when things go wrong and people stop sticking to the deal, that’s when eviction comes into play.

Solicitors are the ones who step in by explaining tenants’ rights, checking landlords have followed the rules, and helping tenants who may be about to lose their homes.

In truth, they’re the people you want on your side should things go topsy-turvy!

🔎What’s happening? 

What is a s.8 notice?
Think of a s.8 notice as the “you’ve done something wrong” notice!

Landlords can use it for quite a few things, for instance, if tenants fall seriously behind on rent or break specific terms of the rental agreement. Depending on the reason, tenants might only get a couple of weeks’ warning or by some grace, up to two months.

Some grounds are automatic, and the court has to evict if the landlord’s right, while others are more of a judgment call.

For example:

• Big rent arrears? Mandatory ground → You’re out!

• Smaller arrears? Discretionary → The court might let you pay it off instead!

Landlords often throw in multiple reasons just in case some don’t stick.

But here’s the catch: if the notice has mistakes or missing information, the landlord’s case can collapse, and this is why good solicitors are essential!

What is a s.21 notice?
This is the infamous “no-fault eviction” notice.

Landlords needn’t give a reason, but they do have to follow a bunch of rules, such as:

• The notice must be given in writing.

• The notice must only be used once the fixed term is up or if it’s a rolling tenancy.

• The notice must include at least two months’ warning from the date the landlord serves the notice.

• The landlord must protect the tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme, within 30 days of them getting the deposit, and the tenants should know about it.

• The landlord must hand over certain documents, including gas safety certificates, EPCs, and the “How to Rent” guide, to tenants renting on or after 01/10/2015.

You can probably tell that landlords have to jump through numerous hoops to serve a correct s.21 notice.

That being said, if the notice gets challenged, solicitors dig into all the details to check that the rules were followed. Even if the notice is valid, tenants don’t just magically leave; landlords must go to court and get a possession order. If tenants still refuse to budge after that, bailiffs get involved to make it happen.

It’s a drawn-out, stressful process, which is precisely why having a solicitor on your side matters. They know the system inside out and help make the whole thing a lot less painful.

❓ Why it matters to high street firms

So, you know local law firms?

They spend a lot of time on housing problems, especially when it comes to renting and getting evicted. They're looking over rental contracts, sorting out arguments, and dealing with those really tricky evictions.

When a housing case gets to court and the bailiffs are knocking, it's super stressful and expensive for people. 

By taking these cases on, firms really build up their reputation and become the life-savers for people in the area.

Imagine a family who are very worried because they're about to get evicted for not paying their rent on time.

A good solicitor would:

• Sit them down.

• Explain how the whole eviction thing works.

• Tell them what their rights are.

• Make them feel a bit less swamped. 

• Show them how to fight the eviction if the landlord messed up.

• Help them chat with the landlord to try and avoid a long, drawn-out court battle.

And if a case does end up in court, the solicitor makes sure their story gets told and points them towards other helpful places, like housing charities or benefits advice organisations.

In short, housing solicitors can totally change things for their clients, and clients remember who stood by them when things were tough!

Bailiffs

Bailiffs are the ones who make sure possession orders are followed through, what you would call enforcers.

They can remove tenants and belongings, but aren’t allowed to be violent or threatening!

Their powers come from the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and The Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013.