Rent Arrears

Rent and rent arrears

What to do if you can't pay your rent

You need to pay your rent on time every week. If you fall behind with your rent payments or get into difficulties paying your rent, don't ignore the problem.

Contact your housing officer for advice and to reach an agreement on repayment. We will help you as much as we can.

It is important to be open and honest with us about your circumstances so we can help you deal with the debt while it is small. We can arrange for you to pay it over a short period of time. We will offer you advice about claiming housing benefit which can prevent you from running up a large debt.

Paying your rent is not a matter of choice. Your rent pays for the services you expect to receive such as repairs to your home. When you refuse to pay your rent we will take action to recover the debt and we will evict you if you persistently fail to pay your rent.

Last year we evicted 147 tenants because they did not pay their rent. Don't let this happen to you.

If you don't pay your rent:

• You will receive letters explaining that you are behind with your rent

• A housing offer will contact you by visiting or phoning you to discuss the arrears and make an agreement to clear them .

• If you do not reduce your arrears, we will serve a 'notice of seeking possession' on you, which is the first stage in the court process. The notice explains that you will have four weeks to contact us and arrange to pay before the matter will be sent to court.

• If you receive a notice of seeking possession, it does not necessarily mean you will be going to court. If you make an arrangement to pay and keep to it, we will not go ahead with the legal action.

• If the matter is referred to court, we can ask for an order for you to pay, or in extreme cases gain possession of your home. We will also ask the judge to award us costs for taking this action which you will be expected to pay.

• If you break the court order, we will write to you and ask you to come to an interview with a senior officer to discuss your situation.

• If you do not deal with the problem at this stage we will apply for an eviction warrant. You will need to get immediate advice from your local housing office.

When to pay your rent

How to pay your rent

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Home Information and Services Become a Tenant Current Tenants - Online Services for Tenants - About our Services Leaseholders * * *		Rent and rent arrears What to do if you can't pay your rent You need to pay your rent on time every week. If you fall behind with your rent payments or get into difficulties paying your rent, don't ignore the problem. Contact your housing officer for advice and to reach an agreement on repayment. We will help you as much as we can. It is important to be open and honest with us about your circumstances so we can help you deal with the debt while it is small. We can arrange for you to pay it over a short period of time. We will offer you advice about claiming housing benefit which can prevent you from running up a large debt. Paying your rent is not a matter of choice. Your rent pays for the services you expect to receive such as repairs to your home. When you refuse to pay your rent we will take action to recover the debt and we will evict you if you persistently fail to pay your rent. Last year we evicted 147 tenants because they did not pay their rent. Don't let this happen to you. If you don't pay your rent: • You will receive letters explaining that you are behind with your rent • A housing offer will contact you by visiting or phoning you to discuss the arrears and make an agreement to clear them . • If you do not reduce your arrears, we will serve a 'notice of seeking possession' on you, which is the first stage in the court process. The notice explains that you will have four weeks to contact us and arrange to pay before the matter will be sent to court. • If you receive a notice of seeking possession, it does not necessarily mean you will be going to court. If you make an arrangement to pay and keep to it, we will not go ahead with the legal action. • If the matter is referred to court, we can ask for an order for you to pay, or in extreme cases gain possession of your home. We will also ask the judge to award us costs for taking this action which you will be expected to pay. • If you break the court order, we will write to you and ask you to come to an interview with a senior officer to discuss your situation. • If you do not deal with the problem at this stage we will apply for an eviction warrant. You will need to get immediate advice from your local housing office. When to pay your rent How to pay your rent Check your balance