Meet Luca.
Luca is behind on his rent.
Luca can’t catch up with his arrears, and he’s worried what will happen if this carries on.
Don’t risk losing your home like Luca.
Do communicate.
First and foremost, engage with your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible to explain the problems you’re having paying rent. Continue to communicate with them to find a way forward. They’ll be able to assist with a payment plan that works for everyone, and can point you in the right direction for support.
Do pay what you can, when you can.
Paying some of your rent is better than paying none. Every little helps, and making smaller contributions shows that you’re working towards clearing the backlog. If the situation escalates to possession proceedings, erratic payments will be looked on more positively than no payments at all.
Do prioritise rent.
If you’re struggling with rent, you may be behind on other bills as well. It’s important to prioritise rent, however, as arrears can quickly lead to eviction. Unpaid phone bills won’t build up to as much as your rent will, and not paying water rates is far less likely to leave you homeless. That being said, contact your providers as you should with your landlord and letting agent.
Don’t ignore your obligations.
Even in arrears, you’re still responsible for all other areas of your tenancy agreement, including keeping the home in good order and allowing inspections. If you’re already falling short with rent, don’t do the same with your other obligations.
Don’t withhold rent.
If you’re withholding rent because there’s an issue such as outstanding repairs, this is highly likely to land you in hot water. If your landlord isn’t sticking to their side of the contract, rather than breaking your end of the bargain and falling into arrears, speak to your agent to try and move things forward.
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Do use a lettings agent like Orchards:
01525 40 22 66
ampthill@orchards.co.uk
