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Rent arrears. Get help if you can’t pay your rent

Missed rent payments are called 'arrears'. Try to offer a payment plan as soon as you can. We can help.

Rent arrears are 'priority debts'.


  • 'Priorities' are your most important payments
  • They can impact your home and health
  • For example, you can be evicted for not paying your rent

Section 21 notice – from 1 May 2026

From the 1 May 2026, the government has removed the Section 21 or ‘No fault’ eviction notices.

What does this mean?

Landlords will no longer be able to evict you without a valid reason. Previously, a landlord could issue a Section 21 eviction notice to recover their property without a valid reason. As a renter, the changes to the law mean you have stronger protections against sudden eviction.

If you have rent arrears, landlords still have the power to evict you using a Section 8 notice for rent arrears.

You may apply for Breathing Space, which will offer protection while you look to deal with rent arrears for up to 60 days.

Breathing Space protects you by:

  • Pausing enforcement action and freezing interest and charges for 60 days.
  • This activity can restart at the end of the 60-day period. You can be evicted if you still have rent arrears after the 60-day period.

Find out how to apply for Breathing Space

If you live in Social Housing or a Council property, these changes will not affect you, as you already benefit from Assured or secure tenancies where Section 21 notices do not apply to your situation.

Section 21 notice - received before 1 May 2026

  • If you received a Section 21 'No fault' eviction notice before 1st May, your landlord can still evict you.
  • For Section 21 notices sent before 1 May 2026, landlords have until have until 30 July 2026 to move proceedings to a possession order.
  • If they do not act by this date, then the Section 21 notice becomes null and void.

Is your home at risk?

Free legal support is available.

The government's Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service can advise you on:


  • Illegal eviction
  • Rent arrears
  • Mortgage arrears
  • Issues with welfare benefits payments
  • Debt concerns
  • Disrepair and other problems with housing conditions

Get legal support

Four Useful Renting Tips

Check out these four essential steps if you are struggling with renting:

  • Know your rights - Our friends at Shelter also have great information on this
  • Talk it out - Tell your landlord what is going on
  • Make a repayment plan - Look at your budget to see what you can realistically pay back
  • Let’s tackle this together - Get in touch if you need debt advice

People in the UK miss out on billions of pounds in benefits and tax credits each year. Find out if you are entitled to benefits by using our benefits calculator.

Have arrears from a previous home?


It may be hard to rent a new property if you have arrears on an old one.

There is also a chance landlords could take court action against you.

Is someone helping with your rent or deposit?

It can be a big relief when someone offers you help. This could be a friend, family member, or someone who lives nearby.

A rent guarantor may make it easier. They are responsible for debts you cannot pay.

Whoever it is, make sure to check a few things first.

Loan sharks or illegal lenders can be hard to spot. They may use trust or friendship to trap you in debt.

There are other options to help with housing costs. You can also look at:

Can I stop myself being evicted?

Contact a specialist advice agency if you are worried about being evicted.

Contact your local authority if eviction would make you homeless.

You may also be able to apply for Breathing Space.

Breathing Space offers protection while you look to deal with rent arrears for up to 60 days

  • Breathing Space protects you by pausing enforcement action and freezing interest and charges for 60 days.
  • This activity can restart at the end of the 60-day period. You can be evicted if you still have rent arrears after the 60-day period.

You cannot be evicted for rent arrears during this time. Your landlord could still evict you for:

  • Anti-social behaviour
  • Criminal damage


Need help with rent arrears?

In England or Scotland

In Wales

In Northern Ireland

Money worries?

Find out how we can help you.

Get help now

How do you deal with rent arrears?

Look at your budget and work out how much you can afford to pay

Ask you landlord to accept lower payments for a time

  • Give them a copy of your budget to show what you can afford
  • Explain your situation and tell them you are getting debt help
  • They do not have to agree but many will accept a reasonable offer

Keep to the new payment arrangement. Make the payments even if:

  • Your landlord refuses your offer
  • They do not respond
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We can help if you are:


  • Struggling to build a budget
  • Worried about repayments

Use our sample letters to contact your creditors.

Can you get a CCJ for rent arrears?

Yes, but this happens more for other types of debt.

If you do get a claim letter for a County Court judgment (CCJ), you can:


  • Pay it off
  • Make a payment arrangement.This stops it going on your credit history

Read our guide to dealing with County Court judgments.

Can the council help with rent arrears?

The council’s housing department can help you:


  • Apply for social housing
  • Apply for emergency accommodation
  • Deal with the risk of homelessness

Find contact details for your local authority.

What should I do if housing benefit delays mean I cannot pay my rent?

Your local council should process your housing benefit claim within 14 days.

Contact the housing benefit department if you do not get your payment.


  • Take a copy of your original claim to help them locate your record
  • Take the email receipt if you claimed online

You should also:


  • Tell your landlord what is happening
  • Ask them to agree a temporary payment arrangement

I’m on Universal Credit and cannot pay my rent – what can I do?

Contact the Universal Credit helpline for advice on:

  • Changing how they make payments to you
  • Paying you an advance
  • Paying your rent directly to the landlord

Universal Credit helpline (free calls)

  • Telephone: 0800 328 5644
  • Textphone: 0800 328 1344
  • Telephone (Welsh language): 0800 012 1888

How do I deal with arrears for a previous property?

Treat these like other non-priority debts unless there is court action.

Find out more about which debts to pay first.

These arrears may show on your credit file. This can impact:


  • Your ability to take out more credit
  • Your ability to rent another property

Council housing

If you have rent arrears for council housing:


  • Some local authorities will not let you apply for new council housing
  • Clear the arrears as soon as you can to get rehoused with them

You may be able to pay off the arrears by:


I cannot pay my rent, how can you help me?

We can help you work out what you can afford to pay towards your rent.

Take two minutes to answer a few simple questions and find out how we can help.

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