At Benchmark Solicitors London we offer a range of fixed fee tenant eviction actions in London for undefended court proceedings.
What can we offer you in terms of tenant eviction?
At Benchmark Solicitors London we offer the following fixed fees (excluding court fees) for each stage of tenant eviction process in London. Please note that the below does not apply to squatters or trespassers as they are not tenants, please see our squatters or trespassers page if you wish to evict these occupiers from your property or land.
Repossession Actions
At Benchmark Solicitors London we offer the following fixed fees (inclusive of vat and court fees) for each stage of tenant eviction up to and including the first and hopefully only court hearing. Accordingly, as long as the claim is determined the first time it goes before a judge (and most claims are) then the fees you see below will be the fees you pay. Please note that the below does not apply to squatters or trespassers as they are not tenants, please see our squatters or trespassers page if you wish to evict these occupiers from your property or land.
- Stage 1 – Case review, £250If you are evicting a tenant or tenants, rent arrears or another breach of tenancy is required under section 8. This decision will involve careful consideration of your situation and your paperwork as you will need to initially consider and decide what route you wish or indeed can take. We are happy to meet with you at our offices to do this or alternatively the case can be reviewed from the paperwork you provide and after speaking with you. For case review – £250 inclusive of vat.
- Stage 2 – Service of notice, £150
Once we have considered your case and you have decided how you wish to proceed you will then serve the relevant notice. For service of the notice – £150 inclusive of vat.
- Stage 3 – Court Proceedings, £1424 (£1020 plus court fees currently £404)
Should your tenants fail to comply with the requirements of your notice you must bring your claim to Court to obtain an order for possession against your tenants. The cost of this stage includes any attendance necessary for the first, and hopefully only, consideration of the claim by a judge. For issue and progression of the claim up to the first consideration by the judge:- If the claim is based upon rent arrears or some other breach of the tenancy then the above quote is only offered in relation to rental properties located in the following postcodes; BR1; E; EC; EN; HA; IG; N; NW; RM; SE1-SE18; SE28; SW1-SW12; W; WC
- Stage 4 – Eviction, £268 (including court fees currently £148)
Although the Court would have made an order for possession the tenancy continues until it has been lawfully brought to an end by you via the execution of a valid warrant or writ of possession. To apply for a warrant of possession and organisation of the county court bailiffs and eviction day – (based upon you or your agent attending the eviction and excluding the costs of any locksmiths).
To book your appointment please use our online enquiry form.
To arrange a meeting please contact us.
What if my tenant defends the landlord’s claim for eviction?
The case will become contested and often a tenant may file a counterclaim. At this stage our fixed fee agreement would fall away and we will charge you for time spent.
What if my tenant does not leave on the date given for the eviction?
We would need to make an application to the court for a bailiff appointment, and once we are notified of the date, arrange for a locksmith to attend the property. We will charge you for time spent and court fees.
What are section 21 and section 8 actions?
Section 21 actions – Repossession on Expiry of a Tenancy
Section 21 refers to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
From 1st May 2026, section 21, traditionally the basis for the so called “no-fault eviction” has been abolished by the introduction of the Renters Rights Act 2025. Section 2 of the 2025 Act abolishes assured shorthold tenancies, which had the benefit of the section 21 provisions. Notices served before 1st May 2026 can be relied upon however only for a short period. If a notice was served before 30th April 2026, it can be relied upon until 31st July 2026, provided all of the other legal requirements to serve a valid notice have been complied with.
If a landlord serves a notice after 1st May 2026, then not only will it be invalid, but the Local Authority also has the ability to impose a civil penalty of up to £7000.
Section 8 – Repossession for Other Reasons
Section 8 refers to section 8 of the Housing Act 1988.
To those who are not familiar with it, it codifies the landlord’s right to bring a tenancy to an end for reasons other than the term being at an end, or in addition.
What reasons are the acceptable reasons which would allow a landlord to bring the tenancy to an end and evict their tenant?
Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the grounds upon which a landlord may seek to recover possession of a property. There are a number of grounds both discretionary and mandatory grounds which allow such an action to proceed. The Renters Rights Act 2025 has broadened the grounds on which possession can be sought.
What is the most common ground used to evict tenants under section 8?
The most common ground to use is ground 8, which if established must give rise to a possession order. Ground 8 relates to rent arrears and allows you to recover possession of the property when the tenant has not paid the rent. There are some discretionary grounds which would also be used for non payment of rent as well, albeit the mandatory ground requires 3 months of arrears.
How can it be done in practice?
You must serve a notice on the tenant in a prescribed form and meet the requirements of ground 8 before the court will give possession. To satisfy ground 8 when you serve the notice and when it comes to court there must be at least three months rent outstanding.
So can I do it myself?
Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 contains complex provisions about the requirements to be met in order for a possession order to be granted. You must get an order if you wish to evict a residential tenant. If you miss out a step you may cause unnecessary delays, preclude yourself from bringing the claim or spend time and cost that you hadn’t anticipated. We would thoroughly recommend taking legal advice, so that you get your desired result first time.
For more information on our full range of property services please visit our property repossessions page. For further information on our full range of landlord and tenant services please see our landlord and tenant page.