Worried that complaining about repairs, or claiming compensation, could get you evicted? For council, housing association and now private renters in England, retaliatory eviction is not lawful. Here is the protection you have.
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Direct Answer
No, not lawfully in most cases. Council and housing association tenants in England and Wales have strong security of tenure. You cannot be evicted just for complaining about repairs or for making a disrepair claim. Private renters in England are now protected too. From 1 May 2026 the Renters' Rights Act ended Section 21 "no fault" evictions, so a private landlord can no longer remove you without a legal reason. If you have been threatened with eviction, do not move out. Get advice first.
Council and housing association tenants
Most council tenants are secure tenants, which is a lifetime tenancy. Most housing association tenants are assured tenants. Both can only be evicted on specific legal grounds set out in housing law. Almost all of these grounds need the landlord to prove fault on your side, such as serious rent arrears or antisocial behaviour, or a real need to get the property back. The landlord also has to get a court order.
Complaining about disrepair, or claiming compensation for it, is not a lawful ground. If your landlord even hints they might evict you for raising repairs, that is a serious warning sign. Keep everything in writing and get advice straight away. You may have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Private renters
The law has changed in your favour. From 1 May 2026 the Renters' Rights Act ended Section 21 "no fault" evictions in England. Your private landlord can no longer end your tenancy without giving a reason. So they cannot simply remove you for complaining about repairs or for making a disrepair claim. To evict you now, they must use a Section 8 ground, such as serious rent arrears, and prove it to a court.
Before May 2026, private renters relied on the older "retaliatory eviction" rules in the Deregulation Act 2015. These blocked a Section 21 notice for six months after the council served the landlord with an improvement notice. Those rules still matter for any notice served before the ban. But ending Section 21 now gives you stronger protection. In Wales, similar protection applies under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
What to do if you're served notice
Do not pack. Do not hand back the keys. Do not stop paying rent. Take the notice, your written complaints, and any council letters to Shelter, Citizens Advice, or a housing solicitor straight away. The deadlines on the notice mean nothing if the notice itself is invalid.
You can also call Support for Tenants on 0800 030 4669 for a free check on whether your disrepair claim is still on track. If your case is strong, we can refer you to a panel solicitor who can challenge the eviction alongside the disrepair. See should I use a solicitor or an ombudsman.
Free alternative: Shelter's emergency helpline (0808 800 4444) gives free housing advice, and Citizens Advice can help you respond to any notice at no cost.
Sources
- Deregulation Act 2015 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Housing Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (legislation.gov.uk)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 21 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
Related guides
Section 8 eviction explained (now that Section 21 has gone)
A Section 8 notice is how a landlord must now seek to evict you, using a specific legal ground. Here is what the grounds are, how the process works, and where to get free help.
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Being evicted? What your rights are, step by step
If your landlord wants you out, there is a legal process they must follow, and you do not have to leave until a court orders it. Here is each step and where to get free help.
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What is a Section 21 notice, and is it still legal?
Section 21 'no fault' evictions were the standard route for private landlords to end a tenancy. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 has banned them. Here's the position now.
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Still stuck?
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