What happens if I don't pay my rent?
If you fall behind with your rent payments, we will need to take action. This could lead to you losing your home, although we only evict people as a last resort.
We'll always try to work with you first. We’ll try to agree a payment plan to help you pay back what you owe. We’ll also offer you money advice to help sort out any problems you have with paying your rent.
But if we’ve tried to help, and you still don’t pay your rent, we will have to start legal action.
Legal Action (Possession Proceedings)
Stage 1
We will send you a Notice of Seeking Possession. This will tell you how much rent you owe and that we plan to take you to court if you don't pay what you owe.
If you still don’t pay your rent, or don’t agree a payment plan with us, you will have to go to court. Court fees could be added to your account and increase the amount you owe.
At this stage, you are at serious risk of losing your home.
Stage 2
When you get to court, if you are trying to pay off what you owe, we might ask for a Suspended Possession Order. This means you can stay in your home as long as you pay your rent, and the extra agreed instalments to clear what you owe.
But if you stop making these payments, we can ask the court for a warrant for your eviction.
Stage 3
If you don’t clear what you owe, the court may issue a Possession Order. This means you will have to leave your home.
Important
You can contact us at any time to stop things from getting worse. Call 0800 111 4013.
Remember
The problem won’t go away. The longer you leave it, the more serious it becomes.
If you’re having problems paying your rent, you can get confidential help and advice. We have experienced staff who are here to support you, not judge you. We can also put you in touch with our free money advice service.
See our Financial Wellbeing page.
There are other independent advice agencies who can advise you on your money and debt problems, such as Payplan, StepChange and Citizens Advice.