How to evict a tenant for anti-social behaviour
When to use Ground 14, when Ground 7A applies, and the evidence the court actually wants to see.
Anti-social behaviour cases are won and lost on evidence. The Renters' Rights Act preserves both Ground 14 (discretionary, immediate proceedings) and the new mandatory Ground 7A (criminal conviction or breach of injunction).
Pick the right ground
Ground 7A: tenant has been convicted of a listed offence or breached an ASB injunction. Mandatory, court must grant possession.
Ground 14: any nuisance or annoyance behaviour, no conviction needed. Discretionary, court weighs the evidence and the tenant's circumstances.
Most cases plead both, with Ground 7A as the primary if there is a conviction.
Build the evidence file
Dated witness statements from neighbours (signed where possible).
Police 101 logs and crime reference numbers.
Council noise team reports.
Diary notes from you, dated, contemporaneous.
Photos of property damage with metadata intact.
Serve and proceed
Both grounds allow proceedings to begin immediately after notice. There is no statutory waiting period for Ground 14 or 7A.
Common mistakes
- Hearsay, anonymous complaints, and unsigned statements are weak evidence.
- Covert recordings can backfire and create their own legal exposure.
- Acting too late. If you tolerated the behaviour for months without action, the court may consider eviction unreasonable.
Source: gov.uk Guide to the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Last verified 2026-05-09. This page is informational, not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a solicitor.