Rent arrears

If you owe us rent, act quickly. We want to help you but if you don't talk to us about the problem, you risk losing your home.

Your questions answered

What if I have problems paying my rent?

If you have money problems, temporary or permanent, contact your Neighbourhood Office. We will do everything we can to help you catch up. However, we will not hesitate to take you to court if you continue not to pay your rent. ACT NOW, don't risk losing your home.

How can I reduce my arrears?

Contact us. Together we can work out a regular repayment agreement based on how much you can afford to pay.

What will happen if I continue not paying my rent?

If you continue to be in arrears we will send you a written warning. Unless you make a serious attempt to repay your debt, we will apply to court to allow us to repossess your home (make you and your family leave). See You could lose your home.

I think the arrears on my account are wrong. What can I do?

If you think the arrears on your account are wrong, please contact us. We will check the account and give you a statement of your rent account. If the arrears are wrong, we will adjust the account. If they are correct, we will explain to you how the arrears have occurred.

I am in arrears because my Housing Benefit has not been paid. What can I do?

You are responsible for your Housing Benefit claim. It is important that you apply as soon as possible and that you give all the information needed to process it. If you are having problems contact your Neighbourhood Office for advice. We are here to help.

What to do

Talk to your Neighbourhood Housing Team. Anyone can have money trouble from time to time. So, if you are having difficulty paying your rent, let us know immediately. We will do our best to help you.

If you know you have a rent payment problem, or you have received a letter from us about your rent, you should contact your Neighbourhood Office immediately. A member of your Neighbourhood Housing Team will discuss your arrears with you and give you advice including how to apply for benefits.

If you have debt problems we can put you in touch with another organisation that can give you specialist advice.

If you are unable to pay the amount you owe in full we can enter into a repayment agreement with you based on your income. This will involve paying an extra amount in your rent over a period of time until the debt is paid off.

You could lose your home

We will take legal action against you if you do not pay us the rent you owe us or do not keep to any repayment agreement you have made with us.

We will send a written warning to you and any joint tenant. You should contact us immediately. The sooner you do this the less likely it is that we will take you to court.

If you make no attempt to clear or reduce your arrears, we will go to court: