What to do if you can't pay rent. Emergency help available, how to talk to your landlord, benefits you may be entitled to, and longer-term solutions.
·4 min read
If you’re struggling with rent, you’re not alone — and there’s more help available than you might think.
Immediate Steps
First 24-48 Hours
Priority
Action
1
Don’t panic — eviction takes months
2
Contact landlord immediately
3
Check benefit entitlements
4
Look at emergency funds
5
Get advice (Shelter, Citizens Advice)
What NOT to Do
Avoid
Why
Ignore it
Makes everything worse
Just stop paying
Communication helps
Hide from landlord
They usually prefer solutions
Panic move out
You have rights
Talk to Your Landlord
What to Say
Approach
Example
Be honest
“I’m struggling to pay rent this month”
Explain why
Job loss, illness, income drop
Propose solution
“Can we arrange a payment plan?”
Show willing
“I want to stay and pay what I can”
What You Can Ask For
Request
Realistic?
Payment plan
Often yes
Temporary reduction
Sometimes
Delay while benefits claimed
Usually
Use deposit toward rent
Discuss
Move to cheaper property (same landlord)
Sometimes
Landlord Perspective
They Want
Meaning
Regular payments
Prefer reduced than nothing
Communication
Hate silence
Good tenants
Finding new ones is costly
Property maintained
You staying is good
Financial Help Available
Universal Credit
Feature
Details
Housing element
Helps with rent
Who can claim
Low/no income
How much
Depends on LHA rate in your area
Apply
gov.uk
First payment
5 weeks (but can get advance)
Housing Benefit
Feature
Details
Still exists for
Pension age or supported housing
Otherwise
Universal Credit housing element
Apply
Local council
Local Housing Allowance Rates
Bedrooms
It Pays
Shared room (under 35)
30th percentile local rents
1 bedroom
30th percentile
2 bedrooms
30th percentile
3 bedrooms
30th percentile
| Problem | Often doesn’t cover full rent |
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)
| What | Extra help from council |
| For | Rent shortfall gaps |
| How | Apply to council |
| Evidence | Budget, why struggling |
| Typically | Short-term help |
Emergency Funds
Council Crisis Funds
Name
Details
Local Welfare Assistance
Most councils have this
One-off grants
Won’t repay
Apply
Contact council
What they cover
Varies — rent arrears sometimes
Charitable Help
Source
How to Find
Turn2us
Grant search tool
Local charities
Search by area
Employment charities
Based on profession
Religious organisations
Local churches etc
Benevolent funds
Industry-specific
Turn2us Grant Search
Step
Action
1
Visit turn2us.org.uk
2
Use grants search
3
Enter circumstances
4
Find matching grants
5
Apply directly
Your Rights
Eviction Timeline
Stage
Minimum Time
Rent arrears build up
2+ months usually for action
Section 8 notice served
2 weeks - 2 months notice
Court hearing
4-8 weeks after notice
Court order issued
If judge agrees
Bailiff enforcement
2+ weeks after order
Total minimum
3-6 months typically
You Cannot Be…
Illegal
Contact Police
Locked out
Without court order
Utilities cut
In retaliation
Harassed
By landlord
Threatened
With violence
Section 8 Grounds
Ground
Reason
Notice Period
Ground 8
2+ months arrears at notice AND hearing
2 weeks
Ground 10
Some rent arrears
2 weeks
Ground 11
Persistent late payment
2 weeks
Getting Help
Organisation
What They Do
Shelter
Free advice, helpline
Citizens Advice
Benefits, rights
Duty solicitor
Court representation
Council
Homelessness prevention
Longer-Term Solutions
Reduce Rent Costs
Option
Details
Move somewhere cheaper
Plan carefully
Take in lodger
If allowed in tenancy
Move to shared housing
Often much cheaper
Different area
Cheaper locations
Social housing
Apply to council
Increase Income
Option
Details
Claim all benefits
Use benefits calculator
Additional work
If possible
Ask for raise
If employed
Training
Longer-term income boost
Social Housing
How to Apply
Details
Council waiting list
Apply to local council
Housing associations
Apply directly or via council
Realistic
Long waits in many areas
Priority
Given for certain circumstances
If Homelessness Is Imminent
Contact Council Immediately
They Must
If You’re
Help prevent homelessness
At risk within 56 days
Provide advice
Always
Assess your case
For duty owed
Consider emergency housing
If eligible
Council Duties
Situation
Council Must
Threatened with homelessness
Work to prevent
Actually homeless
Assess and provide
Priority need
May provide temporary housing
Not priority
Still advice duty
Priority Need Categories
Category
Details
Pregnant
Any stage
Children in household
Dependent
Vulnerable
Age, health, fleeing abuse
Homeless due to disaster
Fire, flood
Emergency Numbers
Contact
Number
Shelter helpline
0808 800 4444
Council housing
Local number
Crisis (if homeless)
0300 636 1967
StreetLink (rough sleeping)
0300 500 0914
Summary: Can’t Afford Rent Action Plan
Immediately
Action
Done
Contact landlord
☐
Explain situation
☐
Propose payment plan
☐
Check benefit entitlements
☐
This Week
Action
Done
Apply for Universal Credit (if eligible)
☐
Ask council about DHP
☐
Contact Shelter for advice
☐
Use Turn2us grant finder
☐
Create emergency budget
☐
If Eviction Threatened
Action
Done
Don’t leave voluntarily
☐
Get legal advice (Citizens Advice)
☐
Contact council housing team
☐
Attend court if hearing
☐
Keep all communications
☐
Key Contacts
Service
Contact
Shelter
0808 800 4444
Citizens Advice
citizensadvice.org.uk
Turn2us
turn2us.org.uk
Local council
Search “your area” + housing
Benefits Checklist
Check Eligibility
Done
Universal Credit
☐
Housing element
☐
Council Tax reduction
☐
Discretionary Housing Payment
☐
Local welfare assistance
☐
You have more time and more options than you think. Don’t suffer alone — free help exists, and reaching out is the first step to solving this.