Emergency works notice
An emergency works notice is the everyday term many landlords use for a council’s notice of emergency remedial action. It is used when the local housing authority often Environmental Health) has identified a Category 1 hazard in a rented property and believes there is an imminent risk of serious harm to an occupier’s health or safety. In those circumstances the council can enter and carry out the urgent repairs or other remedial works, they consider immediately necessary, rather than waiting for you to do them first.
Crucially, the “notice” may arrive after the works have started. The Housing Act process requires the local housing authority to serve a notice within seven days of beginning the emergency action, setting out what hazard was tackled, what was done, and why. The council can also seek to recover its reasonable costs of the works and associated charges from the person on whom the notice is served, so it can land as an unexpected bill if you have not addressed serious issues promptly.
You do have a route to challenge it. A relevant person can appeal to the Property Tribunal (First-Tier Tribunal) against the council’s decision to take emergency remedial action and related aspects under the appeal provisions for emergency measures. Shelter notes the appeal time limit for emergency measures is typically 28 days, and legislation provides for appeals in section 45.
From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act changes the wider enforcement backdrop in England by abolishing Section 21 notice, so you cannot rely on “no-fault” possession if relations sour after enforcement action. Landlords will need to focus on swift compliance, good records, and using Section 8 notice only where a valid ground genuinely applies.
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