Paying your rent

If you are in arrears

Having trouble paying your rent? Don’t delay…contact us now!

We understand the problems of living on a limited budget. If you are in arrears you don’t have to pay off what you owe all at once – we can discuss an arrangement for you to pay regular amounts that you can afford.

But you need to move fast! If you don’t tell us you have got a problem, or you don’t keep to an agreement to pay off your arrears, we will take recovery action, which could result in you being evicted.

How to make an arrangement to pay your arrears

To make an offer of payment, or talk to us about a payment arrangement, complete our Make arrangements to repay rent arrears form today (this link will take you back to the Thanet District Council website). Or phone us on 01843 577000.

Getting help with your rent

There are various benefits you may be able to claim which can help you to pay the rent – even if you are working. Contact your council's Benefits Service or the Department for Work and Pensions for further information.

If you need further help or advice, click here.

What happens if I do not pay?

The following gives a guide to the action we will take to recover any rent arrears. It applies to Secure Tenancies only.

If you hold any other type of tenancy you are advised to contact the East Kent Housing Rent section for advice as soon as you think you are not going to be able to pay your rent.

If you do not pay your rent you could lose your home. We will tell you if you miss any payments.

Reminder letter

If you miss a rent payment or are paying less than you should, we will send you a reminder letter asking you to make up the payments. If for any reason you cannot do this, you must contact us, immediately.

Final Notice

If you do not pay your arrears after the first reminder letter, or if your arrears continue to rise, we will send you a Final Notice. This will ask you to pay your arrears. If for any reason you cannot pay, you must contact us, immediately.

Notices of Seeking Possession

If your arrears remain unpaid, you will be served with a Notice of Seeking Possession. This explains that Thanet District Council intends to start court action to gain possession of your home. We can take court action 28 days from the date of the Notice, if your arrears remain unpaid.

Possession Order

If we take court action, we will apply for a Possession Order. The County Court will send you a letter giving you the date of your court hearing. At court the Judge may grant a Suspended Possession Order, which means you must pay off your arrears by making a weekly payment, in addition to your weekly rent. You will be charged Court Costs of £150, which will be added to your arrears.

In some circumstances we will apply to the Court for an Outright Possession Order. This means the council will be able to take possession of your home within a certain time.

If a County Court Judgment (CCJ) is made against you, you may not be able to get credit in the future, including a mortgage, credit card or loan.

Warrant of Eviction

If an Outright Possession Order is made against you, or you do not pay your Suspended Possession Order, we will apply to the Court for a Warrant of Eviction, to evict you from your home.

It is a myth that the Council does not evict people, even if they have children. If you are evicted, you may be considered as ‘intentionally homeless’ and have difficulty finding somewhere else to live.

You might also be interested in:

Consumer Credit Counselling Service
Free debt advice, including information on completing a personal budget statement, specimen letters to creditors and help with arranging a repayment plan to clear debts.

Kent Savers

Telephone them on:

0333 321 9050 - Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm

0300 456 9990 - Monday to Friday - 5pm to 8pm, and weekends from 8am to 8pm

Visit Kent Savers every Friday at Gravesham Gateway Civic Centre, Windmill Street, Gravesend, from 9.30am until 1pm.

National Debtline
Free, confidential and independent advice on debt issues. The National Debtline provide a free debt advice pack, including guidance on completing a personal budget, specimen letters to creditors, and information on many of the legal issues connected with debt.