Loading...
The dwelling was provided in connection with the tenant's employment, and the employment has ended.
Ground 5C is a mandatory ground for possession introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. It applies where the dwelling was let to the tenant in consequence of their employment by the landlord (or a previous landlord), and that employment has ended. Under the RRA, Ground 5C replaces and expands the former Ground 16, which covered a narrower set of employment-related lettings.
This ground is designed for situations where an employer provides accommodation as part of the employment arrangement — for example, a live-in caretaker, a farm worker occupying a tied cottage, or an employee housed in accommodation owned by the business. When the employment relationship ends, whether through resignation, redundancy, retirement, or dismissal, the employer-landlord needs a route to recover the property for the next employee or for other purposes.
The key requirements for Ground 5C are that the property was let to the tenant in consequence of their employment by the landlord, and that the employment has ended. The link between the tenancy and the employment must be genuine — the property must have been provided because of the job, not merely coincidentally let to someone who happens to work for the landlord.
The notice period for Ground 5C is 2 months. The landlord must serve a Section 8 notice specifying Ground 5C and allowing at least 2 months before proceedings can be issued. This gives the former employee a reasonable period to find alternative accommodation after their employment has ended.
Because Ground 5C is a mandatory ground, the court must make a possession order if the landlord proves the conditions are satisfied. The judge has no discretion to refuse on grounds of reasonableness. The critical evidence will be the employment contract (or other documentation showing the link between the tenancy and the employment) and proof that the employment has ended.
Ground 5C is new under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and replaces the former Ground 16 with a broader and clearer formulation. Landlords who provide accommodation in connection with employment should ensure their tenancy agreements and employment contracts clearly document the link between the two.
Need to ensure your employment-linked tenancy documents are up to date? [Generate your complete document pack](/create) for £29.99, or read our [Plain English Guide to the RRA 2025](/blog/renters-rights-act-2025-plain-english-guide) for a full overview of the changes.
A properly drafted tenancy agreement makes it far easier to rely on Section 8 grounds if things go wrong. Generate your complete RRA-compliant document pack in minutes.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change and individual circumstances vary. You should always seek independent legal advice before taking action to recover possession. TenancyPack is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.