Getting into rent arrears can be a stressful situation, but there are steps you can take to catch up and sort it out.
We’ll take you through it all, from checking you’re responsible for the arrears to setting up a repayment plan or dealing with an eviction notice.
The most important thing is to communicate with your letting agent if you’re struggling to pay rent. The sooner you let them know, the more options you’ll have to get back on track.
So let’s start shifting that weight off your shoulders. Here’s what to do if you get into rent arrears.
How far behind can I get on rent payments?
If you’re finding it tough to pay rent on time, there is a little leeway.
If you pay rent monthly, you have two months before your landlord can serve you an eviction notice (also known as a section 8 notice).
If you pay rent weekly, you can get into 8 weeks of arrears before your landlord can try to evict you.
However, that’s not to say you want to let it get this far.
As soon as you start having troubles affording your rent, that’s the time to get in touch with your letting agent.
How do I check I’m responsible for the outstanding rent?
Before you pay anything, make sure you’re the one responsible for the rent arrears.
If you’re the sole tenant, you’ll be responsible for missed rent.
But if you live with other people, it will depend what type of tenancy you have.
If you’re on a joint tenancy with housemates
If you and your housemates signed one tenancy agreement together, you're on a joint tenancy.
You’re all jointly and equally responsible for the rent payment, regardless of who’s actually paying it.
So if one of you falls behind on rent payments, the others can be held accountable for the remaining balance.
It means your landlord could take legal action against all of you even if it’s just one who hasn’t paid their share of the rent.
If you and your housemates are on separate tenancies
If you have separate tenancy agreements, however, you're only responsible for your own rent - not anyone else's.
So the landlord can only take missed rent up with the individual who didn’t pay. No one else in the property can be held accountable.
How do I check how much rent I owe?
This is where it helps to be super organised and keep a record of your rent payments.
If you haven’t been keeping track, look back at your bank statements to add up what and when you’ve paid.
If you have a weekly tenancy, the letting agent should have provided you with a rent book or another record of your payments.
You can also ask your letting agent for a statement of how much rent you’ve paid to make sure it matches your own records.
Setting up a rent repayment plan
Once you know how much you owe, have a chat with your letting agent as soon as you can.
Explain your situation and why you’re struggling to keep up with rent payments.
They’ll work with you and your landlord to agree a rent repayment plan that you can afford.
It can be a difficult conversation to face, but keep the end goal in mind. It’s the first step to sorting everything out and it’ll probably go better than you expect.
Reaching an agreement this way is usually the best course of action for everyone. The landlord will want to avoid any legal action just as much as you do.
Using a mediation service
Landlords are required to make reasonable efforts to resolve any issues before they can try to evict you.
Using a meditation service can be a big help if you’re struggling to reach an agreement.
A member of the mediation team will join you and your landlord to talk over the phone or in person.
They’ll facilitate discussions about your rent arrears and help you to agree a repayment plan.
In most cases, the landlord will need to contact the meditation service and the service will then contact you to organise the next steps.
If you’re served an eviction notice
If you still haven’t reached an agreement, your landlord must follow a legal process to take the issue to court before they can evict you.
They will serve you a section 8 notice and will then need to prove the amount of arrears you have at a court hearing.
Before the hearing, try to pay as much as you can to reduce your rent arrears.
The court is more likely to decide you can stay in your rental home if you can show you're dealing with the arrears and can afford to pay the rent moving forward.
If your arrears are below:
8 weeks, if you pay your rent weekly
2 months, if you pay your rent monthly
3 months, if you pay your rent quarterly or yearly
… by the time of the court hearing, the court may rule in your favour and decide you can stay in your home.
Get financial help to pay your rent
If you’re struggling to pay your rent, it’s worth looking into whether you can get financial assistance.
Universal Credit is the most common option for renters but there are a few other benefits and schemes you might be eligible for.
How much rent will Universal Credit pay?
If you’re eligible, you can claim Universal Credit to help pay your rent. This is called a housing payment.
The amount of Universal Credit you can get to pay rent will depend on where you live, how many people live in your home, your income and your personal circumstances.
If you’re behind on your rent, you could have your Universal Credit housing payment sent directly to your landlord. This is called an alternative payment arrangement (APA) and you can apply through your work coach.
You could also apply for an advance or hardship payment from your main Universal Credit payment.
Claim Universal Credit - GOV.UK
Discretionary Housing Payment
You might be able to get extra help from your local council with your rent. This is called a Discretionary Housing Payment.
Other financial help for renters
A budgeting loan (if you’re already on benefits)
Contact your local Jobcentre for help to manage rent costs (if you’re already on benefits)
Get support with managing your tenancy through the Help to Rent database.
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