Renters have not had an easy time of it over the last year as rental prices continue to spike - but what can you do if you are struggling to cover the costs?
The UK rental market made headlines last week as the Government finally, after four years, put forward the long-awaited Rental Reform Bill.
Overall, the bill aims to provide more security for private renters as it plans to scrap no-fault evictions amongst other things - although it did not include rent controls.
Around 4.4million million people live in the private rented sector - a further live in social housing - and many have struggled over the last year with the cost of their homes which are now reaching record highs.
Here, we explain what private renters can do and the steps they should take if they are struggling with their rental costs.
1: Speak to your landlord or letting agent if you are struggling
If you are worried about not making your next rent payment, then the first thing you need to do is speak to your landlord or letting agent.
Sadly, neither legally have to offer you support - but if they are in the know of your situation they may be willing to discuss ways to help.
This could be something such as reducing your rent for part of the year when costs are tighter and increasing them when your finances are more settled.
They could also allow you to pay the rent later/earlier than what is in your contract - such as when you get paid - so you know you will be able to cover it.
Most are more reasonable if you’re upfront about a problem, and are often open to a chat on how to move forward in a way that works for everyone.
2: Ask for a repayment plan if you miss a rent payment
Missing your rent payment is not the best look and you should always try and avoid this wherever possible.
However, if you have missed one you should again contact your landlord or letting agent straight away and explain what has happened.
Missed rent payments are called "rent arrears" which is a "priority debt" and can be a reason to evict you from the property.
When speaking to your landlord, you should explain fully, clearly and honestly your situation and if you can't pay the rent in full, ask if you are able to pay part of it for now.
Again, your landlord or letting agent isn't legally required to negotiate with you, but they may be willing to agree to a repayment plan, which would involve you settling the amount owed within an agreed timeframe.
3: Ask for "breathing space" on your rent arrears
If you have built up a lot of rent debt, you may be able to qualify for the "Debt Respite Scheme".
This is also known as "breathing space" and is a Government scheme to help people struggling with debt.
If you're approved, then your creditors - in this case, this could be your landlord - won't be able to take enforcement action, such as an eviction notice, against you for 60 days.
However, you should note that the scheme is a respite from the arrears and not a payment holiday - so you should still try and make rental payments where you can.
4: Check if you are eligible to claim benefits on your housing costs
If you are on a low income, you are often able to get Universal Credit which can include an element which helps with the cost of your housing.
You can ask the DWP to pay your housing element straight to your landlord if you owe at least two months' rent and in some other situations.
If you are eligible to claim and have two months of rent arrears, you can ask the DWP to pay your housing element straight to your landlord.
If the money doesn't cover your entire rent then you may be able to get extra help from your local council under their Discretionary Housing Payment.
5: Know your rights as a tenant
If you fall into arrears, your landlord may try and evict you, and if they do they will send you a notice - this is called a "notice seeking possession."
Alongside writing a notice, your landlord will also need to apply for a court order, called a "possession order'".
If you fail to leave by the date specified on the order, the landlord can apply for a warrant of eviction, there are lots of steps a landlord must take before they can evict you.
If you receive a notice, first you should check whether your notice is correct - the rules on notices depend on your tenancy type.
You should also check if your notice has any other mistakes on it - like the wrong address or name.
If the notice isn't valid, your landlord must then issue a new valid one if they still want you to leave - this will give you more time in your home.
You can find out from Citizens Advice how the eviction process works in the event of rent arrears - in some instances your landlord may not be able to evict you.
6: Always reach out for help and advice
If you're concerned about rent payments or the prospect of eviction, you should always reach out for help and advice.
There are many specialist housing charities such as Shelter and others which can offer you free support.
These types of charities can give you specific and detailed guidance which could help in your personal circumstance and it could provide you with information you were not aware of.
If you're at risk of becoming homeless due to eviction, you can contact your local council's housing department for advice on applying for emergency accommodation.
