Your arrears may not be as much as you think or you may be able to increase your income to help pay off your debt. Have a look at our quick checklist for some tips:
Check the arrears
If you are a Council Tenant or a Housing Association Tenant ask your Housing Officer for a copy of your rent account. Go through it and make sure it is correct. If you are a Private Tenant you can check your rent book, receipts, cheque payments etc.
TIP! There may be other charges included in your rent such as service charges and utility bills. These charges are not classed as rent, and your landlord cannot add them to your rent arrears. If you are a Council Tenant, your landlord cannot add any housing benefit overpayment to your rent account total.
Prioritise your payments
Rent arrears are a priority debt. This is because you could lose you home if you are unable to keep up with the payments. If you have other debts, make sure you deal with the priority debts first. Get advice from a debt adviser if you are not sure.
Ask an adult child or adult occupier to contribute more
Explain the situation to the other people in your home and see whether they can help out.
Claim Housing Benefit
If you are on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you may be entitled to Housing Benefit (external website) to help pay your rent. In some cases you may be able to backdate Housing Benefit so that your arrears are reduced.
More help if Housing Benefit doesn't cover all the rent
You may be entitled to claim an extra payment from the council if your benefit does not cover all your rent. This is called a discretionary housing payment (external website).
Emergency help if your Housing Benefit claim has been delayed
If you are a private tenant and you have supplied the Benefits Unit with all the information it needs to process your claim, if you have not been paid within 14 days you can ask for an Interim Payment or Payment on Account Get advice as soon as possible if your situation is very serious.
Withholding rent to try and make the landlord complete repairs
If you take this line of action you could be in danger of being evicted because you do not have rights in law to withhold rent from your landlord. If you have the money you should pay your landlord straight away. Find out more about your rights to get repairs done.
Moving out and letting the property
Find out about your duties as a Landlord contact the Landlord Adviser on 07939 995181
Information on other websites
Are you worried about your mortgage? Get advice now (leaflet PDF external website)
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email
Information Provider:
Manchester Advice
Date Written:
February 2005
Date Reviewed:
10 November 2008
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
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