I’m Worried About Paying My Rent or Mortgage
Worrying about keeping a roof over your head can make every other bill feel secondary.
Worrying about keeping a roof over your head can make every other bill feel secondary.
You may be moving money between accounts, paying one bill late to cover another, avoiding messages from the landlord or lender, or hoping next month will somehow be easier.
Early action usually creates more options than waiting until arrears have become unmanageable.
If rent is becoming difficult
Work out what is due, what has been paid and whether arrears already exist.
In England, rent arrears can be used as a ground for possession. The rules depend on the tenancy and circumstances, so do not ignore a notice or assume that receiving one means you must immediately leave.
Contact the landlord early if you can and keep any agreement about repayment in writing.
Check whether your income can be increased
A change in work, relationship, health, caring responsibilities or household composition can change benefit entitlement.
Check whether you may qualify for Universal Credit housing costs, Housing Benefit in the limited situations where it still applies, Council Tax support or other assistance.
MH360 Entitled can help people explore potential entitlement, but any important decision should be checked against current official rules.
If you have a mortgage
Contact the lender before missed payments accumulate where possible.
Mortgage lenders have regulatory and pre-action requirements concerning customers in payment difficulty and possession should not be treated as the first step.
Ask what temporary arrangements, term changes or other support may be available in your circumstances before agreeing to anything you do not understand.
Do not solve housing costs with expensive borrowing without looking at the whole picture
Using credit to pay rent or mortgage can turn a housing shortfall into a wider debt problem.
Before taking new borrowing, list essential income and expenditure and seek free debt advice if the numbers do not work.
A debt adviser can help distinguish priority debts, including housing costs, from other commitments and explain available options.
If disrepair is contributing to the pressure
Keep this issue separate.
Additional heating, damaged belongings or other costs caused by poor housing may be increasing your financial pressure, but that does not automatically allow you to deduct those amounts from rent.
Record genuine losses and seek housing-law advice separately if serious unresolved conditions may give rise to a claim.
If losing the home is becoming a realistic possibility
Do not wait until you have nowhere to sleep.
In England, homelessness prevention duties can become relevant before somebody actually loses their accommodation.
If you have received a possession notice, face mortgage repossession or believe you are likely to become homeless, contact your local council’s housing or homelessness service and an independent housing adviser promptly.
Last reviewed
6 September 2026
Important informationThis guide provides general information only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical or other professional advice. Housing rights, financial support and legal remedies depend on the type of tenancy or mortgage, location and individual circumstances. Check current official information and consider advice from an appropriately qualified housing adviser, healthcare professional, financial adviser or legal professional where needed.