Resolve issues with rent arrears & secure the income you deserve
Dealing with rent arrears can be an incredibly stressful and challenging experience for you as a landlord. When your tenants fail to pay their rent, it falls under what is known as 'priority debts,' which can have consequences for both you and your tenants. Rent arrears can severely impact your income, creating financial strain and uncertainty. If you don't address these arrears promptly, they can lead to the termination of the tenancy agreement and may even result in eviction.
The rent arrears experts at AST Assistance have helped many landlords resolve issues with rent arrears, to secure the income you are owed or find another suitable solution. Working by your side, we will talk you through your rights and responsibilities, and the steps you can take to solve the issue of rent arrears, including the option of using benefit payments to pay off arrears.
To address rent arrears owed by a tenant in your property, contact our specialist rent dispute team today. Call us on 01706 619 954, email info@ast-assistance.com, or fill in our online form to request a call back.
Our approach to rent arrears
If a tenant has failed to pay their rent in the agreed timescale, you will have grounds to take legal action. The tenancy agreement will outline a payment schedule for rent, indicating how much and how often rent should be paid. By failing to do so, the tenant breaches the rules of the contract.
We will ensure that you can resolve this issue with your tenant by taking the necessary steps to help you secure the rent you are owed. Otherwise, we can help you to pursue appropriate remedial action.
From the moment you employ us to help with rent arrears, we will work tirelessly to give you the best chance of securing the missing income. Through our extensive knowledge of the processes surrounding rent arrears, we know how to best deal with potentially sensitive situations, while ensuring that each party fulfils their obligations - with the aim of efficiently moving the case forward to obtain your dues.
How should I best prepare for rent arrears?
When facing rent arrears, there may be disputes as to the amount owed and the timescale of each payment. As such, it is vital that you prepare all relevant documentation, including housing benefits and rent payments, so that if a tenant accrues rent arrears, you have the evidence you need to prove that money is owed.
Furthermore, you should send receipts for payments to tenants and keep a copy yourself. This allows for a mutual understanding throughout the tenancy of how many payments have been made to date and thus reduces the risk of tenants accidentally missing payments.
Can I evict a tenant for rent arrears?
When a tenant accrues rent arrears due to missed rent payments, they are in breach of their tenancy agreement, which means you are eligible to take action against them. If your property is managed through an agent, they may be able to help you contact the tenant, in the hope of securing the money. However, they have limited resources and are often incapable of pursuing action in a swift manner.
If you manage your property privately, you may make an attempt to secure the rent you are due. There are different ways that you can try to secure the rent you are owed, but each has legal requirements that you must fulfil, or you risk facing penalties yourself. Additionally, court actions related to eviction can result in a judge adding a monetary judgment to cover rent arrears, court fees, and legal costs - so it is vital that you understand your rights and take the appropriate course of action.
Visit our eviction page for more information on the eviction rights you have as a landlord.
What are my rights as landlord for dealing with rent arrears?
AST Assistance will help to make contact with the tenant, explaining the obligations of both parties as set out in the tenancy agreement.
If contact with the tenant is unsuccessful, we will look to speak to a guarantor, if there is one.
If the attempts to make contact with the tenant and guarantor are unsuccessful, we will help you to serve a Section 8 notice. This acts as a warning that should the tenant fail to clear their rent arrears in the next 14 days, you will be eligible to take them to court.
One option to manage the money owed by tenants is to set up a repayment plan. This allows tenants to spread the amount owed across future rent payments, making it easier for them to clear their arrears. Tenants may also be eligible for a discretionary housing payment from the local council to help cover rent arrears.
At AST Assistance, we will guide you in taking control of a rent arrears situation, giving you the tools and knowledge you need to successfully resolve the issue. While you may have the right to take them to court, we have the experience to resolve cases before they reach this stage - in fact, three out of four cases we handle are settled before involving the courts, which is simpler and more cost-effective for our clients.
Contact AST Assistance
Dealing with rent arrears by yourself can be complicated and stressful. To give yourself the best chance of successfully settling your issue, get in touch with the team of rent arrears specialists at AST Assistance today. Call us at 01706 619 954, email info@ast-assistance.com, or fill in our online form to request a call back.
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