Schedule 2A offences that trigger Ground 7A
Ground 7A applies on conviction of a Schedule 2A to the Housing Act 1988 offence: murder; manslaughter; rape and serious sexual offences (Sexual Offences Act 2003); wounding/GBH with intent (s.18 OAPA 1861); terrorism offences (Terrorism Act 2000 and related legislation); supply/production of controlled drugs (MDA 1971 ss.4-5); permitting premises for drug supply or production (MDA 1971 s.8 — landlord/tenant can be convicted where property used as a drugs hub even if tenant did not personally supply); arson; serious criminal damage. Closure orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and contempt for breach of an ASB injunction also trigger Ground 7A without a criminal conviction.
Whose conviction counts — tenant, household member, or visitor
Ground 7A is triggered by conviction of: (1) the tenant personally; (2) any person residing in the property (household member — partner; adult child; adult relative; long-term live-in occupier); (3) any person who was visiting the property. This makes Ground 7A particularly powerful: a drug dealer visiting the property to supply drugs is convicted under MDA 1971 s.4/5 — landlord can use Ground 7A against the tenant even though the tenant did not personally supply. Evidence required: certificate of conviction from the court; identity of convicted person; connection to the property.
2-week notice and Ground 7A alongside Ground 14
Section 8 notice (Form 3, post-RRA 2025 version from 1 May 2026) must state Ground 7A; 2-week minimum notice period; no dispensation available for Ground 7A alone. Strategy: plead Ground 14 (ASB — discretionary; court can dispense with notice period) alongside Ground 7A in the same notice to allow immediate court proceedings on Ground 14 while Ground 7A provides the mandatory element at the hearing. Also plead Grounds 8 and 8a if rent arrears exist — multiple mandatory grounds make possession near inevitable. Act promptly after conviction — serve notice on day of sentencing or within days.
Ground 7A post-RRA 2025 and interaction with breathing space
RRA 2025 (in force 1 May 2026): Ground 7A remains available and mandatory for all assured tenancies after 1 May 2026. Use updated post-RRA 2025 Form 3 for notices served after 1 May 2026 — old form may be invalid. Breathing space (Debt Respite Scheme): moratorium covers arrears debt only — does NOT prevent service of Ground 7A notice (criminal conviction ground, not arrears ground) or Ground 14 (ASB ground). Proceed with Ground 7A possession proceedings even if tenant is in breathing space for rent arrears. Where property is a drug supply hub, also consider reporting to local authority housing enforcement — closure order application may accelerate possession via Ground 7A's closure order trigger.