It is important to act quickly if you have rent arrears, to prevent your arrears getting bigger and to avoid your landlord trying to evict you. This page tells you what to do.

If you have fallen into rent arrears because you are having difficulty making rent payments, you may be able to increase your income, make savings or get help paying your rent.

If you have rent arrears, you may be able to apply for a debt payment programme under the debt arrangement scheme. This will give you time to pay off your debts at a rate you can afford.

If you get income support, jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance or pension credit and you have rent arrears, payments towards your arrears can be deducted directly from your benefit.

Problems with your claim for housing benefit can lead to rent arrears. Find out what you can do if you are in this situation.

If you do not make sufficient payments towards clearing your rent arrears, your landlord will have the right to try to evict you. Your landlord cannot just throw you out of your home, the correct legal procedures must be followed.

If you are being taken to court over money you owe, you may be able to apply for a court order giving you time to pay off the debt. If your landlord is taking you to court for rent arrears and is also applying for an eviction order, talk to a housing adviser or a solicitor first.