Is it sufficient to satisfy the requirements to notify the tenant of the landlord’s address under sections 47–48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (LTA 1987) by way of a cover letter to a section 8 notice? If not, how much time should there be between complying with LTA 1987, ss 47–48 and serving the section 8 notice on the tenants?

This Q&A raises the effect of a landlord failing to comply with the requirements which must be satisfied if a possession order is to be obtained of a dwelling let on an assured tenancy within the meaning of the Housing Act 1988 (HA 1988). In particular, it raises the requirement that tenants be notified of the landlord’s address under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (LTA 1987).

Before a landlord can obtain possession of a property which has the protection of HA 1988 as an assured tenancy, a notice of seeking possession must be served on the tenant setting out details of the statutory grounds for making an order is relied upon (HA 1988, s 8). Where a tenant fails