Thank you. So as I understand it, this is a legal requirement. What are my rights/what should I do if my landlord has never provided one?

Thank you to everyone for the advice.

My rent is payable weekly (tenancy agreement states rent is to be paid weekly to landlord's bank account) which I do. I have been told that the landlord should still provide a rent book as it is paid weekly - is that correct? Thank you.

I was not aware of the arrears and they have come as a shock, as explained in my original post this has only been brought to my attention with the issuing of a section 8 notice shortly after being told she wants to sell the property. I have also now realised that my deposit has not been protected. Does this affect matters at all?

But the landlord still wants me out to sell the property and I cannot find 8 weeks of rent all in one hit.

Having looked back there are arrears from that period, I had missed these myself. Obviously an error on my part and would seek to pay if I can, but seems rather unfair that have only just been brought to my attention and in an abrupt way with section 8 out of the blue.

I rent a house from a private landlord and have done so for 3 years or so. We did have a good relationship until recently when she informed me she wants to sell the property. She asked me if the rent was up to date and I said it was as far as I was aware. I have now been issued with a section 8 notice out of the blue, stating rent arrears as the reason, but the arrears are from January and March this year and it is the first I knew of this. Additionally, there was no tenancy agreement in place for that period. I had an AST for the first year, when that expired a new one was not put in place (we had a relaxed landlord/tenant relationship) until a couple of months ago when a new one was issued. My questions are, should I have been formally advised of the arrears before a section 8 was issued? Does it make any difference that no tenancy agreement was in place for the period when the arrears have occurred? Thank you for your help.