No — in almost every case, your landlord cannot lawfully evict you without a court order. Doing so is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. Only county court bailiffs, acting on a possession order, can lawfully remove you from your home. The main exception is if you’re a lodger living with your landlord.

The lawful eviction process, three stages

However urgent it feels, your landlord (in almost every case) has to go through three separate stages before you can lawfully be made to leave:

1. A valid written notice. Since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026, this must be a Section 8 notice citing a specific ground under the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025), with a notice period set by that ground.
2. A possession order from the county court. If you don’t leave by the date on the notice, your landlord has to apply to court. You’ll get the chance to respond, and a judge decides the case — read more on the possession order process.
3. A bailiffs warrant. If you still don’t leave after a possession order, your landlord applies for a warrant, and only then can bailiffs remove you — with at least two weeks’ notice of the date.

Nowhere in that process does a landlord, letting agent, or their friend get to remove you personally, change the locks, or set a deadline of their own choosing.

The exception: lodgers and excluded occupiers

There is one group this doesn’t apply to. If you live with your landlord and share living space — a kitchen or bathroom, for example — you’re legally a lodger (or “excluded occupier”), not a tenant. Your landlord only has to give you reasonable notice (usually the length of your rent period — so one week if you pay weekly) and doesn’t need to go to court first, as GOV.UK confirms for excluded tenancies and licences. The notice doesn’t even have to be in writing.

If you rent a self-contained flat or room and don’t share living space with your landlord, this exception doesn’t apply to you, even if your landlord lives in the same building.

Why bypassing the courts is a criminal offence

For everyone else, trying to force you out without a court order isn’t just invalid — it’s a crime. Under Section 1 of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, it’s a criminal offence to unlawfully deprive a residential occupier of their home, or to do anything intended to make them leave — including:

• Changing the locks while you’re out
• Cutting off gas, electricity, or water
• Removing your belongings
• Threats, intimidation, or repeated unwanted visits
• Sending a text or verbal “notice” with a deadline to leave (see our guide on two-day eviction notices sent by text, these are never valid)

A landlord can be prosecuted, fined, and ordered to pay you compensation, on top of losing any right to evict you the way they attempted to.

What to do if this is happening to you

Renters Rights Act Services helps you check where you stand, use the tool below to see if your eviction notice is valid.

1. Don’t leave voluntarily. You’re only legally required to go if and when a court grants a possession order, not on any date your landlord gives you.
2. If you’ve been locked out, you may be able to get back in. Shelter’s guidance explains when it’s reasonable to force entry (e.g. changing the locks back) and how to handle the police if they wrongly call it “just a civil matter.”
3. Document everything — dates, times, messages, witnesses, and anything your landlord says or does.
4. Contact your local council. Councils have a Tenancy Relations or Private Sector Housing team that can investigate illegal eviction and harassment, find your council on GOV.UK.
5. Get free legal advice fast. The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service offers free advice regardless of income, find a local adviser here.

FAQ

Can my landlord change the locks while I’m at work?
No. Changing the locks to keep you out is a criminal offence unless you’re an excluded occupier such as a lodger. You may be able to force entry to get back in.

I don’t have a written tenancy agreement — can I still only be evicted with a court order?
Yes. Having no written agreement doesn’t change your legal protection. If you occupy the property as your home and aren’t an excluded occupier, your landlord still needs a court order.

What if I stay after my Section 8 notice period ends?
Nothing happens automatically. Your landlord has to apply to court for a possession order, you keep your right to stay until a court actually grants one.

Can the police help if my landlord tries to evict me illegally?
Yes, in principle — illegal eviction is a crime, not just a civil dispute. If officers are reluctant to act, Shelter’s guidance above has wording you can use to push back.

This guide covers the law in England. It’s provided for general information and isn’t a substitute for legal advice — for advice on your specific situation, use the free services linked above. Last reviewed September 2026.

What to read next:

• Your landlord has sent an eviction notice — full guide
• Got a two-day eviction notice by text?
• Section 8 vs Section 21 — what changed