There are multiple ways a section 21 notice might be invalid:
- If the tenant doesn't have an AST
- If the tenant isn't given enough notice
- If the landlord/agent didn’t protect the deposit
- If the landlord/agent didn’t give the tenant information on the deposit protection scheme used
- If there is a mistake on the s 21 notice e.g. misspelled name
- If the landlord needed to get a license to rent the property but didn't do so
- If the landlord/agent didn’t use the prescribed form 6a
- If the landlord doesn't start court proceedings within 6 months of serving the s 21 notice
- If the s 21 notice was served within the first 4 months of the tenancy starting
- If the tenancy started after 1 Oct 2015 and the landlord didn’t give the tenant valid gas safety certificate, EPC, or ‘How to rent’ guide
- It’s possible to challenge s 21 notice if landlord charged fees banned by Tenant Fees Act 2019, overcharged deposit, or if it’s served because the tenant asked for repairs