My landlord wants to move back in — can they evict me?

Yes, but only after your tenancy has been running for at least 12 months, and only with four months' notice. This is Ground 1 under Section 8.

Ground 1 allows eviction if the landlord or a close family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling) genuinely needs to live in the property as their main home. The landlord must give you at least four months' written notice. If your tenancy started less than 12 months ago, the notice cannot expire until the 12-month point.

After using Ground 1, your landlord is banned from re-letting the property for 12 months from the date the notice was served. If they evict you but then advertise the property for rent, they have broken the law and you may be entitled to a Rent Repayment Order.

If you receive a Ground 1 notice, check when your tenancy started. If it's less than 12 months ago, the notice period cannot legally expire yet. Write to your landlord stating this clearly.

You do not have to leave when the notice expires either — your landlord must still apply to court for a possession order. Get advice from Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) or Shelter England (Get free legal advice from Shelter) before making any decisions about leaving.