Market news · 31 July 2026
Rent arrears and affordability: what the data shows
Early, documented contact resolves far more arrears cases than formal notices do.
Overview
Affordability pressure has pushed rent-to-income ratios up in most UK regions, and arrears cases increasingly hinge on how early the landlord engaged.
Act in week one
A polite written reminder on the first missed payment resolves the majority of short-term arrears.
Payment plans
A written plan with dates and amounts is evidence of reasonableness if a tribunal or ombudsman later reviews the case.
Records
Keep a payment ledger per tenancy. Reconstructing arrears history from bank statements at the hearing stage rarely goes well.
General information for UK landlords and letting agents, not legal advice. Rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.