If you cannot pay your rent, you are in breach of your tenancy agreement and could be evicted from your home.

It is very important that you contact Raglan so that we can provide advice and help you to stay legally in your home. We can also direct you to more specialist advice if this is appropriate. It is important that you are willing to help yourself and be receptive to different ways of clearing your debt such as direct deductions from wages or benefits.

If you are unable to come to an agreement with Raglan about clearing the debt, Raglan will begin to take the following steps to take possession of your home.

1. A notice seeking possession will be served on you. This notice will give you four weeks to clear the debt or come to an agreement with us to clear it.

2. A possession hearing - Raglan will apply to court for a possession hearing. It is important that you attend this hearing. At the hearing a judge will consider the situation and decide whether you owe Raglan money. If the judge is satisfied that you are in debt to Raglan then a possession order will be served. It is possible for a possession order to be suspended if you make an acceptable proposal to clear the debt in instalments, but in most instances you will still have to pay the legal costs which are a minimum of £130. A suspended possession order can be reactivated if you do not keep to your agreed payments.

3. You will receive a date for eviction from your home. At this point you still have the opportunity to pay off the debt.

4. You can also appeal to the court against eviction. The judge will make a decision based on the evidence that you and Raglan provide.

Any court order will have serious implications for you in terms of getting future credit or a mortgage.

The effect of rent arrears on transfers and mutual exchanges
If you have rent arrears it is very unlikely that Raglan will agree to a transfer, although under very special circumstances it may be considered. Ask to speak to your housing officer who can be contacted through the Housing Services Centre by email hsc@raglan.org or by telephone 0845 070 7772.

If you want to exchange and there is any outstanding legal action against you, the other landlord can legally refuse to do so. This applies even if you want to exchange with another Raglan property.

If you have any questions or require further information about rent arrears please contact the Housing Services Centre by email hsc@raglan.org or by telephone 0845 070 7772, you can also request a copy of the rent arrears fact sheet.

Alternatively the rent arrears fact sheet is available direct from this website.

Residents in Southampton, Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant can also use the South Coast Money Line that may be able to assist them with their financial situation. For further details please visit the South Coast Money Line website.

Residents in the North Somerset Council area can take advantage of the services offered by the Money Advice Centre where the Credit Union operating alongside a mutual referral system with the Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to provide advice and practical help with a wide range of financial issues including: