Letting agents are rapidly adapting to the post-Section 21 landscape, with 87 agency brands signing up for Section 8 support in the eight weeks since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force.
The figures, released by LegalforLandlords, come as new analysis suggests landlord possession claims – used as a proxy for Section 8 activity – are on course to rise by 6.1% during 2026 as landlords increasingly rely on the revised possession process.
Section 8 has become the principal route for landlords seeking possession following the abolition of Section 21 in May. It allows landlords to regain possession where specific legal grounds exist, including rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, property damage or other breaches of a tenancy agreement.
According to the latest court data, private landlord possession claims reached 7,629 during the first quarter of 2026, up 11.1% on the previous quarter and 4% higher than a year earlier.
LegalforLandlords forecasts that possession claims could reach around 30,500 by the end of the year. The company says growing demand for specialist advice is reflected in the number of letting agency brands seeking Section 8 support since the new legislation came into force.
The latest available court figures also show that the median time from a possession claim being issued to repossession now stands at 26.4 weeks, underlining the continued importance of managing the process effectively.
Sim Sekhon, group CEO at LegalforLandlords, commented: “Section 21 has gone and Section 8 is now front and centre of the possession process. What we’re seeing is the market rapidly adapting to that reality.
“In the eight weeks since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, we’ve welcomed 87 letting agent brands into Section 8 support and professional services partnerships. We don’t believe that’s a short-term spike. It’s a reflection of how quickly agents and landlords are recognising that the rules of the game have changed.
“This isn’t simply a compliance issue. It’s a landlord protection issue and, increasingly, a landlord retention issue for letting agents.
“When a tenancy breaks down, landlords don’t want uncertainty. They want clear guidance, the right evidence, the correct process and the confidence that everything has been handled properly. Getting a Section 8 claim wrong can be costly, particularly when possession cases can already take months to progress through the courts.
“The opportunity for agents is significant. The most successful agents in this new environment won’t simply be those who find tenants. They will be the agents who can protect landlords when problems arise, through better advice, stronger partnerships and a clear understanding of the possession process.
“Section 8 is no longer just a notice. It has become a core part of landlord protection, and agents are putting the right support in place because they know the old market has gone.”
