Stage 1 Rent Arrears Pack

This document creates a covering letter and a schedule of rent arrears for a landlord serving a notice seeking possession under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 against a tenant with an assured or assured shorthold tenancy agreement solely on the grounds that there are current rent arrears. You will need to attach the section 8 notice to this letter. Please note that this document can only be used in England & Wales.

The N215 certificate of service should generally be completed after having sent any court documents, such as claim forms or applications to the court, or other important documents to an opponent after (or sometimes before) court proceedings have begun. The form provides evidence that the documents have been served on an opponent. It is only suitable for claims within England & Wales.

This document creates an initial letter from a private landlord to a tenant who is in rent arrears. It should be used for residential properties rented under an assured or an assured shorthold tenancy agreement. Please note that this document can only be used in England & Wales.

This document creates a notice seeking possession under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 to be served on a tenant with an assured or assured shorthold tenancy agreement solely on the grounds that there are current rent arrears. It also creates a schedule of rent arrears which accompanies the notice. Please note that this document can only be used in England & Wales.


Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), temporarily, tenants must be given extra time before you can start a claim for possession based on rent arrears. In England, 6 months' notice is required if they owe less than 6 months' rent when you give them the notice. Otherwise, only 4 weeks' notice is needed. In Wales, 6 months' notice is required no matter how much rent is owed.