Missed rent · Payment plans · Free Excel log
Rent
arrears.
Most missed payments are sorted with a quick message and a realistic plan. Check your records, get in touch early, confirm what you agree in writing and keep a dated log of every step, in case you need it later.
Download the rent arrears logFree Excel file · No signup
Not legal advice.
01 /
Check it’s
really missed.
Before you contact anyone, check the facts. A payment might be late, split, or sent to a different account.
- Check your bankLook for the payment under a different reference or amount, or split across days.
- Check what was dueConfirm the rent amount and due date in the tenancy agreement and your rent records.
- Work out what’s owedNote the amount and which rent period it’s for. The free landlord spreadsheet shows what’s left to pay each month.
02 /
Get in touch
early.
A friendly message in the first few days usually works better than a formal letter weeks later.
Ask, then listen
Say what you haven’t received and ask if everything’s OK. Changes in work, benefits or health are common reasons.
Agree a plan the tenant can actually keep, then confirm it by email or letter with dates and amounts.
Point to help
If your tenant claims Universal Credit, you can apply for their housing costs to be paid to you directly using GOV.UK’s direct rent payment service.
Tenants can also get free advice from Citizens Advice or their council.
03 /
Keep a dated
log.
A clear record helps you both remember what was agreed. If it ever goes further, it’s your evidence.
Log · Oak flat worked example
| Date | What happened | Owed after | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct | Rent missed | £850 | October rent not received. |
| 3 Oct | Contacted tenant (text) | £850 | Asked if everything is OK and when rent can be paid. |
| 4 Oct | Tenant replied (phone) | £850 | Hours cut at work. Can pay on 20 October. |
| 5 Oct | Plan agreed (email) | £850 | Plan confirmed in writing; tenant replied to agree. |
| 20 Oct | Payment received | £0 | £850 received. Back up to date. |
Fictional, in WorkedExample. Record facts, not opinions, and keep emails and texts in your own folder.
04 /
If it isn’t
resolved.
In England, since 1 May 2026, a landlord can only end an assured tenancy for arrears using a possession ground and a court order. Take advice before you serve notice.
| Ground | What it means |
|---|---|
| Ground 8 · mandatory | The tenant owes at least 3 months’ rent (or 13 weeks’ if paid weekly or fortnightly) on the day you give notice and at the court hearing. If the court agrees, it must grant possession. |
| Ground 10 · discretionary | The tenant owes some rent. You can use it before arrears reach 3 months. The court decides whether possession is reasonable. |
| Ground 11 · discretionary | The tenant has repeatedly paid late, even if nothing is owed now. The court decides. |
| Notice | 4 weeks’ notice for each of these grounds, using Form 3A, before you can apply to court. |
| Universal Credit | You can’t evict under ground 8 if the arrears are only because the tenant hasn’t yet received their Universal Credit. |
Does this apply in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. The grounds above are for assured tenancies in England. Each nation has its own rules for rent arrears and possession.
Should I keep accepting rent?
Yes. Accepting payments towards arrears is normal. Record each one in the log with the new amount owed.
Can I keep the deposit?
The deposit is protected until the tenancy ends. At that point, unpaid rent is something you can claim from it through the deposit scheme, with evidence.
What if my tenant stops replying?
Keep trying in writing and log each attempt. Take advice from a solicitor or a landlord association before serving any notice.
Check the official guidance
These pages set out the rules this guide summarises.
Early, kind and written down.
Save a copy of the free log and start it the day a payment is missed.
Sproutlet’s app is still in development. These resources are free to use now.