What to do if…
you get a final notice for rent or mortgage and cannot pay on time

What to do now

1. Put the notice in front of you and identify the stage.
   Check whether it is:

   • an arrears or missed-payment letter,
   • a formal possession or tenancy notice,
   • court papers,
   • a hearing date,
   • an eviction or repossession appointment.
     Also note whether the home is in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, because the process and support route can differ.

2. Send a short written message today and keep a copy.
   Write to the landlord, housing provider, letting agent, or mortgage lender. Say:

   • you received the notice,
   • you cannot pay the full amount by the deadline,
   • what you can pay now, even if that is £0,
   • what you can pay next and on what date,
   • that you want a realistic arrangement,
   • that you want all replies in writing.
     If you can safely pay something now without missing essentials such as food, energy, travel to work, or other priority bills, pay it and state that in the message.

3. If it is rent, keep the current rent going if you can.
   If you cannot clear the arrears, paying the current rent can still help show the arrears are not getting worse. If the notice mentions possession, court, eviction, or a date when someone says you must leave, get urgent housing advice before making decisions about moving out.

4. If it is a mortgage, contact the lender’s arrears or support team today.
   Ask what temporary support they can consider in your circumstances. This may include a payment arrangement, a temporary change to payments, a term change, or other forbearance.

5. Ask for emergency housing-cost support using the route for where you live.
   Contact your local council or, in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Ask what help exists for rent arrears, housing costs, or avoiding homelessness. In England, ask about the Crisis and Resilience Fund or local emergency support. In Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, ask whether a Discretionary Housing Payment or local equivalent may apply.

6. Get free advice before negotiating further.
   If it is rent, contact a housing adviser. If it is mortgage arrears, contact a free debt adviser and ask about mortgage arrears support. If you are in England or Wales, ask whether Breathing Space is suitable; it can give temporary protection on many debts for up to 60 days, but a debt adviser must apply for it and you will usually still need to keep up ongoing rent or mortgage payments.

7. If court papers or a hearing date have arrived, treat that as urgent.
   Do not miss the deadline or hearing. In England and Wales, ask about the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service as soon as you receive written notice that someone is seeking possession of your home.

8. If you may lose your home soon, contact homelessness support now.
   In England, Wales, or Scotland, contact your council or local authority homelessness team and say you are at risk of losing your home. In Northern Ireland, contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Do this even if you are not sure whether the notice is valid.

9. Make a simple proof pack.
   Save or photograph:

   • the notice,
   • the envelope if it shows a date,
   • tenancy papers or mortgage statements,
   • recent rent or mortgage payment records,
   • the message you send today,
   • any replies,
   • any court or eviction paperwork.
     Keep them together so you can send them quickly to an adviser, council, Housing Executive, landlord, or lender.