Possession Ground Statement — landlord obligations in England
If you intend to rely on certain specific legal grounds for possession — including grounds relating to the property needing redevelopment, certain anti-social behaviour situations, or other specialist grounds listed in the legislation — you must include a statement to that effect in the written statement of terms you give to the tenant at or before the start of the tenancy. Grounds 1 and 4A are not covered here — those have their own separate pre-tenancy notice requirement in OBL-004b.
The law that creates this obligation
Your obligations as a landlord
- Who this applies to: All landlords intending to rely on certain specific legal grounds for possession listed in Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 (see official guidance for the full list).
- When it applies: At or before the tenancy is entered into, as part of the written statement of terms.
- What you must do: Include the ground statement in the written statement of terms if you intend to use any listed ground.
What good evidence looks like
Your compliance file should contain
- Written record or document confirming this obligation has been met
- Date of compliance — email timestamp, signed receipt, or platform log
Upload the written statement including the written possession ground statement.
Record this obligation in your LettingsLedger workspace
Upload evidence, set reminders, and build a timestamped compliance record — all in one place.
Consequences of non-compliance
Civil penalty up to £7,000. Court may still grant possession.
Further reading for landlords
LettingsLedger is a compliance evidence governance platform. It is not a legal services provider and does not provide legal advice. Content is derived from UK primary legislation at legislation.gov.uk and official GOV.UK sources. Reflects the position as at June 2026. A GovProtocol product by Pertheo Limited.