If you don't pay the rent your landlord can evict you. You may be able to keep your home if you act quickly. Get in contact with your landlord and don't just hope that the problem will disappear.

Get advice as soon as possible. An adviser may be able to help you stay in your home or explain your options.

• Work out your finances
• Get in touch with your landlord
• Pay what you can
• Problems with housing benefit
• Getting extra housing benefit
• Can my landlord evict me?

Work out your finances

It can be difficult dealing with a rent problem. You must plan a solution if you are in debt. If you owe rent you should:

• work out your financial situation
• increase your income
• reduce your spending
• produce a realistic repayment plan

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Get in touch with your landlord

Tell your landlord if you can't pay some or all of your rent. Your landlord is more likely to be sympathetic if you explain your problems. Your landlord may not evict you if you can agree with your landlord how you will pay back the rent arrears.

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Pay what you can

Pay as much as possible towards your rent even if you can't afford to pay it all. This will show your landlord that you are making an effort to deal with the situation. It also means the debt does not become too large very quickly.

It is worth paying what you can even if your landlord tells you that you must pay all of your rent. If your landlord refuses to accept your money, keep it in a separate account and keep offering to pay it.

If you have missed rent payments your landlord may let you pay back the money you owe over a period of time rather than in one payment. Try to agree an amount that you can afford.

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Problems with housing benefit

Contact the Housing Executive if you have rent arrears because your housing benefit hasn't been paid. Your housing benefit may be delayed for a number of reasons:

• backlogs at the housing benefit office;
• the Housing Executive hasn't got all the information it needs to assess your claim.

If you have provided all the information you've been asked for you can ask for an 'interim payment' 14 days after you put in your claim. You should request this in writing and keep a copy of the letter.

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Getting extra housing benefit

You can apply for extra money from the Housing Executive if your housing benefit isn't covering all your rent. This is known as a 'discretionary housing payment'. The Housing Executive will consider your circumstances before deciding whether to make an extra payment or not.

If possible get advice before applying. An adviser can help you put your case to the Housing Executive.

Take in a lodger

Taking in a lodger can be a useful source of extra income. However, there are drawbacks to taking in a lodger:

• you may need your landlord or lender's permission;
• your benefits may be reduced;
• your insurance payments may increase.

Remember that taking in a lodger can be stressful. Consider your family's situation before taking in a lodger.

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Can my landlord evict me?

Your landlord can evict you if you don't pay your rent. Your landlord will usually have to:

• give you 28 days' notice to quit your accommodation;
• get a court order telling you to leave your accommodation.

Your landlord can go to:

• magistrate's Court to get back the rent you owe;
• county court to get back the rent and evict you from the property.

You must repay your debt if the court decides that you do owe your landlord. Your landlord can also get a court order telling you to leave the property after 28 days.

Get advice if you are having problems paying your rent. An adviser can help you look at your financial situation and help you to work out what to do. Advice is available from Housing Rights Service.