Whether you're a council, housing association, housing co-op or a private tenant, you pay rent in return for living in your home. This section looks at how rent is paid and what you can do if your rent goes up or you can't afford to pay your rent.

If you have rent arrears, your landlord could take legal action to have you evicted from your home. This section looks at different ways to deal with your rent arrears and avoid eviction.

When you move into rented accommodation, most private landlords or letting agents ask for a deposit. This section explains what a deposit is for, how you can get help to pay your deposit, and what you should do if you have trouble getting your deposit back when you move out.

Almost everyone who buys their own home gets a mortgage to pay for it. This section provides information about the things you should consider when getting a mortgage and how common problems can be dealt with.

If you fall behind with your mortgage payments you could risk losing your home. This section has advice on what you can do if you are having problems paying your mortgage.

Besides the cost of your mortgage, there are other things you need to take into account when buying your own home. This page looks at the costs of finding a home and arranging a mortgage, including the deposit, insurance, stamp duty and registration fees.

This section looks at other costs involved when you live in rented accommodation or own your own home. Unfortunately your rent or mortgage is only the start of it!

There are many ways that you can receive care and support: living in your own home, in sheltered accommodation or in a care home. This section looks at how to pay for care and support and what help is available.

Whether you own or rent your home, you may have to pay council tax. Find out who has to pay, how much you will have to pay and what to do if you fall into arrears.

If you rent your home and have a low income, or get welfare benefits, you may be entitled to help with your rent from housing benefit. Council tax benefit can be paid to both tenants and homeowners who are having difficulty paying their council tax. Find out more in this section.

This section has more information about benefits, and about grants and loans that may be available for specific housing costs. It also looks at financial help for specific groups of people, including students, parents, care leavers, disabled people and young people, and has advice on getting help to pay for heating.

If you are disabled, you may be entitled to certain benefits, grants or loans. Some benefits will depend on how disabled you are and how much help you need, others will be means tested, so will depend on how much money you have.

The rules for claiming benefits can be different if you're under 18. This page explains which benefits you're eligible to apply for. Whether or not your claim will be accepted will depend on your circumstances.

Care leavers are entitled to certain support and benefits such as community care grant, a budgeting or crisis loans. This page outlines the benefits and support that care leavers are entitled to.

This page looks at loans and grants available to students, including student loans, bursaries and sponsorship.

This page looks at how you can get help with housing costs if you are a parent or responsible for bringing up a child. It also gives advice on working out which benefits you can claim and looks at other means of support.

This section looks at rent issues for crofting tenants, and at financial support available for crofting tenants and owner-occupiers.

This page looks at ways you can reduce the amount you spend on heating during the cold winter months. If you are elderly, disabled or on a low income, you may be able to get some help to pay your bills - this page offers a brief overview of possible sources of financial help.

If you want to keep your finances on the straight and narrow, drawing up a budget will really help. This page explains what budgeting is, and contains links to useful websites that can help you manage your money.

With credit cards, store cards, overdrafts and bank loans readily available, it's easy to slip into debt. Most housing problems start because of financial difficulties, so if you do find yourself getting into debt, it's important to take action as soon as possible.