How To Deal With Rent Arrears
Overview
What this guide covers
This guide covers the full rent arrears process from the moment a payment is missed through to formal possession proceedings. It explains how to communicate with tenants, when to escalate, how to serve a Section 8 notice and what to expect at court.
Who it is for
Any landlord whose tenant has missed one or more rent payments. The process applies to all private residential tenancies in England under the Renters' Rights Act.
What this guide does not cover
- –Rent arrears in Wales or Scotland (different legislation)
- –Commercial tenancy arrears
- –Recovering arrears after a tenancy has ended (small claims court process)
- –Universal Credit direct payment applications (covered separately)
Before you start, you will need:
- ·A record of all rent payments received and missed
- ·The tenancy agreement
- ·Contact details for the tenant
- ·The tenant's National Insurance number (useful for Universal Credit applications)
When To Use This Guide
Use this guide when:
- ✓A tenant has missed one or more rent payments
- ✓A tenant is paying partial rent consistently
- ✓A tenant has made a payment arrangement but is not keeping to it
- ✓You need to understand the formal process before arrears reach the Section 8 threshold
Do not use this guide if:
- ✗The tenant is in dispute about the rent amount — resolve the dispute first
- ✗You want to end the tenancy for reasons other than arrears — use the appropriate Section 8 ground
- ✗The tenant has already vacated — use the small claims court to recover the debt