I am having problems paying the rent

For information regarding eviction procedures and Notices to Quit, please see the Types of Tenancies & The Eviction Process pages in the Resources section. For information on harassment and eviction see My Landlord is Asking Me to Leave.

If you are having difficulties paying your rent you should contact Housing Services and speak to an advisor. There are many solutions available depending on why you are having difficulties and how large your rent arrears are.

The earlier you take action the better. Do not ignore the problem! There are many ways in which Housing Services can assist in making sure your rent is paid. Your landlord can evict you much more quickly if you have arrears than if you do not.

Housing Services can;

• check you are claiming all of the benefits you are entitled to,
• negotiate with your landlord with a view to lowering the rent, if appropriate or being flexible with payments,
• negotiate and plan a repayment schedule between yourself and your landlord,
• refer to organisations who may be able to represent you at court to prevent an eviction if necessary,
• refer you to a specialised organisation which deals with debt problems, benefit problems or rent arrears,
• give advice on a range of other options relevant to you individual situation.

I have just lost my job

The first thing you should do is to apply for income related benefits and Housing Benefit to cover the rent. Even if you do not think you will be out of work for long you should apply for the benefits you are entitled to.  Housing Services and Citizen’s Advice Bureau can assist with this.

My Housing Benefit is late

If you receive HB and your landlord seeks a possession order because your  rent payments are late, but the payments are due from the Housing Benefit department, it is probable that you will not be evicted. This is because your landlord must show not only that there are rent arrears, but also that it is reasonable to evict you. If your rent will be paid eventually and it is only because the Housing Benefit payments are late, the Court will usually take the view that it is not reasonable to evict you.

Contact Housing Services for help if you are having problems getting your Housing Benefit paid.

I can't afford to pay the rent

If something has changed in your life, you need to go into hospital for a period of time or the landlord has raised the rent, then contact Housing Services. A Housing Advisor will be able to assess which is the most appropriate way of managing your finances, negotiating with your landlord or looking for other accommodation which is more affordable.

Housing Benefit

Housing Application Form

Housing Benefit Calculator