Rent Arrears Procedure
We want to avoid problems with rent arrears wherever possible. This procedure explains what to do if you’re struggling to pay and how we can work with you to get back on track.
Life is not always easy and we appreciate there may be times when our tenants may find it hard to pay their rent.
If you find yourself in this position, we may be able to help, but it is important that you contact us in advance. For example we may be able to:
- Assist you with an application for benefit
- Help you source Local Authority funding or
- Source other grant aid
There may be other ways that we can help.
However, our Landlords rely on rent payments to meet their own costs, so please don’t stop paying without first speaking to us.
If you fail to follow the procedure below or respond to our attempts to speak to you, ultimately, we may have no alternative but to begin formal action to recover unpaid rent or possession of the property.
Our Rent Arrears Procedure:
- If you know you will be unable to pay all or some of your next rent payment, contact us as soon as possible and let us know.
- We will then get in touch to see how we can help. We will also confirm the amount of arrears in writing so that both sides have a clear record.
- You may also wish to seek free, independent advice from your local council, Citizens Advice or other advice organisation.
- If you cannot pay because of delayed Benefit payments, please provide confirmation of this and let us know what action you have taken. Do you know why the payment has been delayed?
- If we are not notified in advance, and your rent is unpaid, we will be contacting you for an explanation and with an offer to assist. Our priority is always to help you stay in your home and get your rent payments back on track.
- However, if you fail to cooperate, we reserve the right to serve a four-week section 8 possession notice on you under grounds 10 and 11 of Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 if your arrears are not cleared within one month,
- If the arrears reach three months’ worth of rent and eviction proceedings have not yet started, a section 8 notice under the mandatory ground 8 will be served on you.
- If you have not contacted us and arrears continue to accrue, we will be issuing proceedings for possession at the expiry of your possession notice.
Be aware that if it is necessary for us to evict you (which we would prefer not to do) this will impact on your credit rating, making it difficult for you to find alternative accommodation after you have left.
If you wish to contact us to advise that you are in difficulties paying your rent please call us on 02392 550555 or email mail@rowepropertyservices.co.uk with the following information;
- Your name
- The address of the property
- The monthly rent
- Your payment date
- Will you be able to pay any of the rent, and if so, how much?
- When do you expect to be able to make your next payment?
- Is the reason you are unable to pay due to non payment or delay of your Universal Credit or other benefit payment?
- If yes, please provide written confirmation for our records.
- Otherwise, what is the reason you are unable to pay?
- Would changing the date in the month that you pay rent help?
- If yes, what date would work better for you?
- Would you be willing to share basic financial details so we can explore possible support or funding options with you?
- If you do not want us to help you, when do you expect to be in a position to regularise your rent payments and clear all arrears?
- What are your preferred contact details (email, phone etc)?
*Note that the information you provide will be used only for handling your rent arrears notification and will be stored securely in line with data protection law.
