Falling behind on rent or your mortgage is one of the most stressful things that can happen with your money. It can feel isolating, frightening, and like everyone else has got it sorted except you. They haven't. Millions of people across the UK have faced this exact situation, often because of things entirely outside their control: a job loss, an illness, rising bills, or a relationship breakdown.
The good news is that there's a lot you can do, and the earlier you act, the more options you'll have. This guide walks through practical, sensible steps to take if you're struggling to keep up with your housing costs, who to contact, and where to find genuine support.
Why Acting Early Makes Such a Difference
It's tempting to ignore letters, avoid phone calls, and hope things sort themselves out. Completely understandable, but it usually makes things harder in the long run. Landlords, mortgage lenders, and local authorities generally have more flexibility to help you before arrears build up, rather than after.
Falling behind on rent or a mortgage isn't just a money problem, it can affect your credit file, your ability to rent or borrow in future, and in serious cases your home itself. So even if you feel embarrassed or overwhelmed, reaching out sooner rather than later genuinely puts you in a stronger position.
First Steps If You're Worried About Paying Rent or Your Mortgage
1. Get a Clear Picture of Your Finances
Before you contact anyone, it helps to know exactly where you stand. Gather:
- Your income (wages, benefits, any other money coming in)
- Your essential outgoings (rent or mortgage, utilities, council tax, food, transport)
- Any arrears you already have, and how much
- Any savings or support you can draw on right now
This doesn't need to be complicated. A simple list or spreadsheet is enough to start with. If you haven't got a budget in place already, our [guide to budgeting](#) can help you build one quickly, even if things feel chaotic right now.
2. Contact Your Landlord or Lender Before You Miss a Payment
This is the single most important step. Whether you rent or have a mortgage, contacting the person or company you owe money to as soon as you know there's a problem, rather than after you've already missed a payment, tends to lead to better outcomes.
If you rent, speak to your landlord or letting agent. Explain your situation honestly and ask if a temporary payment plan is possible. Many landlords would rather agree a reduced or delayed payment than go through the time and cost of eviction proceedings.
If you have a mortgage, contact your lender directly. Lenders are required to treat customers fairly and to offer support tailored to your circumstances. Mortgage lenders are financial firms regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and under the FCA's Consumer Duty, you're entitled to "the support you need, when you need it" and "communications you understand", so don't be afraid to ask questions until things are clear, as outlined in the FCA's guide to [your rights with financial services](https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/your-rights-financial-services).
Ask your lender or landlord specifically:
- Can payments be paused or reduced temporarily?
- Can the missed payments be added to the end of the term or spread out?
- Is there a hardship or forbearance process I can apply for?
3. Check What Benefits or Support You Might Be Entitled To
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to get help with housing costs through the benefits system, such as Universal Credit, Council Tax Support, or other local welfare schemes. Rules and amounts change and depend on your individual situation, so rather than guessing, it's worth using [MoneyHelper](https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk) or contacting your local council directly to check exactly what you might be eligible for right now.
If you're already claiming Universal Credit or other benefits, tell your work coach or the relevant department about your housing difficulties as soon as possible. Delays in reporting changes can sometimes delay support too.
Talk to Someone Independent and Free
You don't have to figure this out alone, and you definitely don't need to pay anyone to help you. There are free, independent services set up specifically to support people struggling with rent, mortgages, and debt:
- [MoneyHelper](https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk), a free government-backed service offering guidance on housing, debt, and budgeting
- Citizens Advice, who can help with everything from negotiating with landlords to understanding your legal rights
- National Debtline and StepChange, both free debt charities that can help if rent or mortgage arrears are part of a wider debt problem
- Shelter, which specialises specifically in housing and homelessness advice
If your situation involves bigger decisions, such as whether to remortgage, switch to interest-only payments, or consider a debt solution, it's worth speaking to a regulated financial adviser or one of these free services before you commit to anything. These are decisions with real financial consequences, and getting tailored guidance matters more than following generic advice, including this article.
Watch Out for Scams Targeting People in Financial Difficulty
Unfortunately, people struggling financially are sometimes targeted by scammers offering "guaranteed" debt write-offs, quick loans, or help schemes that ask you to hand over money or personal details upfront. If someone contacts you offering to "sort" your rent or mortgage arrears in exchange for a fee, transferring money on their behalf, or sharing your bank details, be very cautious.
The FCA warns that schemes involving transferring money for someone else, even if it seems like paid, simple work, are often linked to money laundering, and taking part can have serious legal consequences for you, not just the person asking, as explained in their guidance on [money transfer scams](https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/money-transfer-scams).
Before dealing with any company offering financial help, check they're genuinely authorised using the FCA's Firm Checker, and never share your bank details or send money to someone you don't know and trust completely.
If You're Facing Possession Proceedings or Eviction
If things have reached the point where your landlord or lender is threatening legal action, don't panic, but do act quickly. You still have rights, and there are steps that must legally be followed before anyone can be removed from their home. Contact Shelter or Citizens Advice immediately, as they can explain exactly where you stand and what happens next in your specific situation. Court and legal processes vary depending on whether you rent privately, rent from a council or housing association, or have a mortgage, so tailored advice is essential here rather than general guidance.
Practical Ways to Ease the Pressure While You Sort Things Out
While you're working through the bigger conversations, there are smaller steps that can help take some pressure off in the meantime:
- Review your budget to see if there's anything, even small, that can be trimmed short-term
- Check for grants or local hardship funds, which some councils and charities offer for people in genuine difficulty
- Prioritise your essentials, rent or mortgage, utilities, and food generally come before other debts like credit cards, so it's worth understanding [how to prioritise debts](#) if you're juggling multiple payments
- Keep records of every conversation, letter, and agreement, so you have a clear paper trail if things need to be revisited later
If you're dealing with wider debt alongside your housing costs, it might help to read our guide on [managing debt](#), which walks through options step by step.
You're Not Alone, and There Is a Way Through
Struggling to pay your rent or mortgage is genuinely hard, both financially and emotionally. But it's also incredibly common, and there's a well-established network of free, independent support built specifically to help people in exactly your position.
The most important thing you can do is act early: talk to your landlord or lender, get in touch with a free advice service like MoneyHelper or Citizens Advice, and check what support you might be entitled to. Avoid making big decisions under pressure or engaging with anyone who asks for money upfront to "help", and if in doubt, always lean on regulated, trustworthy sources of advice.
Things can feel overwhelming right now, but taking that first step, whether it's a phone call, an email, or simply sitting down to look honestly at your finances, is often the hardest part. From there, there's genuine help available to get you back on steadier ground.
