Rents Rise Again: How Late Can You Pay Rent in the UK?

One of the main reasons tenants might be struggling to pay rent is the rise in rent. From September 2020 to September 2021 private rental prices grew by 1.3% in England.

This means throughout the year; people could have seen an increase in their outgoings without an increase in their incomings. Or even a decrease in incomings with things such as Universal Credit being cut back by £20 to its pre-pandemic amount.

It might seem like a distant memory but for many of us, our financial situation will have been impacted by the pandemic. This could mean you’re finding it harder to meet the rent. Lost jobs, lost hours, or even just a change in circumstance such as having to stay home with your children, could mean you can no longer afford rent.

Rising Housing Costs

The Guardian reported that in October 2021 nearly 4 million low-income households were finding it difficult to pay rent, bills, or debts. This has increased up to three times since the Covid-19 pandemic.

What’s more, some landlords and first-time buyers are finding it harder than ever to buy. Every year it gets harder to get onto the property ladder and 2021 was no exception.

Rightmove predicted that the national asking price of a property will rise by 5% in 2022, meaning an increase of around £17,000. This no doubt has a knock-on effect and explains why so many landlords have put up their rent price even though people can afford less and less.

When you’re in a position where you can’t make rent, the best thing to do is act quickly. Your landlord is within their right to take legal action so make sure you prioritise rent over other bills or debts. In some cases, they’ll be able to charge you additional fees if you’re late with rent. However, you will be protected by the Tenants Fees Act 2019.

Know your rights

A landlord can only charge a late fee if:

• It’s been written into the tenancy agreement
• The rent has been outstanding for 14 days or more
• Any late fee can only be 3% or less than the Bank of England’s base rate for each day the rent hasn’t been paid

How late can you pay rent in the UK?

Rent needs to be paid 14 days or less within the date agreed on the tenancy agreement.

How many missed rent payments before eviction is permitted?

If you feel like your rent arrears or debts aren’t manageable it may be helpful to seek debt counselling advice from a financial solutions company. They can help you work out a Debt Management Plan (DMP)or other debt solution, to help you regain control of your finances.

Interested in a Debt Management Plan?

A DMP is a way of consolidating several debts into one affordable monthly payment. If you have rent arrears and other debts, you might be worried about being eligible for a Debt Management Plan with bad credit, but we consider everyone no matter their circumstance.

Contact us today to speak to an expert advisor who can start you on the journey to financial freedom.