Help with rent arrears

If you live in rented accommodation and don’t pay your rent on time, you’re in rent arrears.

That means your landlord can take action if you don’t deal with the debt as soon as you can.

Your landlord could be:

• a private landlord
• a housing association
• your local council

If you’re struggling to keep up your rent or already missed a payment, contact your landlord or housing provider.

Your landlord can then work with you to come to an arrangement, as going through a formal eviction process will probably be a last resort.

At the same time, it’s worth making sure you’re not missing out on financial support that’s available.

You might be eligible for benefits such as universal credit or pension credit, so find out what help you could be entitled to claim.

It’s also a good idea to get in touch with your local council to see if you qualify for a discretionary housing payment (DHP). 

These could be an option for you if your housing benefits don’t cover your full rent and you’re finding it hard to pay the difference.

Once you’ve applied, the council will decide: 

• if you should get a DHP
• how much you’ll get receive
• how long you’ll get the payment for

Yes, you can be evicted if you fall behind with your rent, but there are procedures that landlords have to follow.

They’ll need to give you either a:

• section 21 notice
• section 8 notice

Section 21 notice

Also known as a no-fault eviction, this is the most common way for a landlord to start the eviction process.

A section 21 notice means they don’t need to give you a reason why you’re being evicted, but they do have to give you at least two months’ notice.

You don’t have to leave your home as soon as the notice period ends.

It just means your landlord can start court action. They must do this within four months or the notice will expire.

If you stay past the date on a section 21 order, your rights and responsibilities continue as before, so you should keep paying your rent and only agree to move out if you have found somewhere else to live.

Section 8 notice

You can only get a section 8 notice if your landlord has a legal reason for wanting to evict you, such as being in rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.

You’ll get a minimum of two weeks’ notice if you’re behind with your rent.

As soon as the notice period ends, your landlord can start court action. They have a year before the notice expires.

If you’re facing eviction and would like advice, contact charities like Shelter, Citizens Advice and local housing support services.

They’ll give you free guidance on your rights, timelines and possible defences against eviction.

You can also contact us if you need advice on how to deal with bailiffs.

Your landlord can start eviction proceedings if you fall behind your rent.

So don’t ignore any letters, eviction notices or court papers you may receive.

It’s also worth trying to show that you’re acting in good faith, rather than deliberately not paying what you owe.

So attend the court hearing, so you can explain your situation to the judge.

And collect any documents that back up your case, such as records of rent payments or communications with your landlord, so you can present them in court.

You could also help your case by trying to pay some rent, even if it’s just a small amount.

Although that doesn’t guarantee you avoid eviction, it shows you’re genuinely trying to do the right thing.

Yes, rent is a priority debt, so you could be evicted if you don’t pay.

If you have several debts to deal with, you might think it’s easier to pay the creditor that’s pushing you hardest.

But it’s crucial that you focus on priority debts, as the consequences of non-payment are so serious.

So pay off your rent before other debts like credit cards, personal loans and buy now, pay later.

If you’re finding it hard to manage your debts, then speak to a debt adviser as soon as you can.

We can help you with budgeting and let you know what different types of support are available.