Form 3A · first class post · dated dispatch record
Serve a Section 8 notice by first class post
Since 1 May 2026, possession in England starts with a Section 8 notice on Form 3A, and the notice period starts from service. Upload the signed form as a PDF and we print it and hand it to Royal Mail the same working day, with a dispatch-confirmation email that dates the posting. From £1.79, or £2.69 first class.
Why Section 8 is now the only route
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 abolished Section 21 for new notices in England from 1 May 2026. Landlords can no longer serve a no-fault notice. What replaced Section 21 is the grounds-based Section 8 process on the new prescribed Form 3A: you state the ground for possession (rent arrears, sale of the property, moving back in) and the notice period attached to that ground. If you are wondering where that leaves an old notice, our Section 21 page covers the transition.
Deemed service: why the posting date matters
The notice period on Form 3A does not run from the day you print the notice; it runs from when the notice is treated as served. A notice sent by first class post is normally deemed served on the second working day after posting. Check the service clause in the tenancy agreement, which may say how notices are to be given. Get the service date wrong and the notice period can fall short, which is the kind of defect that sinks a possession claim months later. That is why a dated record of the day your notice went into the post is worth having from the start.
Serving Form 3A: the key dates
- Serve onThe tenant, at the property address
- Deemed service (first class)Second working day after posting
- New Section 21 noticesNone served since 1 May 2026
- Pre-1-May Section 21 noticesCourt claim by 31 July 2026
Notice periods vary by ground. Check the current Form 3A guidance on gov.uk before you serve.
What to include
- The current prescribed Form 3A from gov.uk, completed in full. Older Section 8 forms are no longer valid.
- The ground (or grounds) for possession you rely on, and the facts supporting each one.
- The dates: when the notice is given and the earliest date proceedings can begin, worked out from deemed service.
- Your signature and the date. Sign before you create the PDF. PostOwl prints exactly what you upload, so an unsigned form goes out unsigned.
Keep a copy of the signed PDF with your tenancy file. A court will want to see what was served as well as when.
How to serve a Section 8 notice by post with PostOwl
Upload the signed Form 3A as a PDF, type the tenant’s address at the property, and pay by card or Apple Pay. No account, no subscription. Choose the first class upgrade (£0.90) so deemed service lands on the second working day after posting. Order before the 3pm weekday cutoff and the notice is laser-printed, enveloped and handed to Royal Mail the same day. Your dispatch-confirmation email records the date of that handover (file it alongside your copy of the form), and the PDF is permanently deleted from our servers after dispatch.
Chasing rent arrears without ending the tenancy? A letter before action demands payment formally and often works before any notice is needed.
Section 8 notice FAQs
Can I still serve a Section 21 notice in 2026?+
No. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 abolished Section 21 for new notices in England from 1 May 2026. A Section 8 notice on prescribed Form 3A is now the route to possession. If you served a valid Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, court proceedings based on it must be issued by 31 July 2026 at the latest (some notices lapse sooner), after which it expires.
Is first class post valid service for a Section 8 notice?+
Generally yes. A notice sent by first class post is normally treated as served on the second working day after posting, but check the service clause in the tenancy agreement first, as it may set out how notices must be served. Because deemed service starts the clock, a dated record of the posting day is worth keeping with your copy of the form.
What notice period applies to a Section 8 notice?+
It depends on the ground for possession you rely on: different grounds carry different notice periods. Check the current Form 3A guidance on gov.uk for the period attached to each ground, and remember the period runs from deemed service, so allow two extra working days for first class post.
Do I need to sign Form 3A before uploading?+
Yes. PostOwl prints exactly the PDF you upload. Nothing is added, so we cannot sign or date it for you. Complete Form 3A in full, sign and date it, then save or scan it as a PDF before uploading.
How fast is the notice posted?+
Order before the 3pm weekday cutoff and your notice is printed, enveloped and handed to Royal Mail the same day. First class is a £0.90 upgrade, and the dispatch-confirmation email records the date it was handed over.
Your Form 3A, in the post today
Send it now → from £1.79PostOwl is an independent printing and posting service and is not affiliated with HM Courts & Tribunals Service or any government body. This page is general information, not legal advice. Possession law changed substantially in 2026, so check gov.uk or speak to a solicitor before serving any notice.