Housing - Cannot afford rent

How does Resolver work?

Free forever

Resolver is free. Just raise a case and leave feedback after. Simple! We’ve helped millions of people find a resolution. Get started now and let’s get this sorted.

Know your rights

There’s no jargon in our rights guides. Instead, they’re full of the info you need to get things sorted. We’ll always be on hand with guidance and support to help you get the results you’re looking for.

Get your voice heard

You can be certain that you’re talking to the right person at the right time. We automatically connect you to contacts at thousands of household names, ombudsmen and regulators to find a resolution.

To deal with a rent shortfall, you can:

  • apply for a discretionary housing payment to cover a shortfall
  • in the short-term try to increase your income or cut costs
  • check if you are entitled to other benefits, payments or tax credits

You can also ask people who live with you if they can increase their contribution to household costs or consider taking in a lodger.

If you are struggling with rent or arrears, it may be possible to negotiate a cheaper rent or delayed arrears payments with a private landlord.

Move home to a cheaper rent

Consider a transfer or an exchange to a smaller home if you’re a council or housing association tenant. Ask your landlord about this. If you are a private tenant or moving to a private rented home, check if your council has a rent deposit or bond scheme. This can pay the tenancy deposit or give a new landlord a rent guarantee.

Shelter

The information is this guide is based on the Shelter website and is correct as of December 2014. It is for England and Wales only.

Shelter gives practical housing advice and support online, in person and by phone. Our expert advisers give free, confidential advice 365 days a year, helping with everything from mortgage arrears to finding a place to sleep. If you need help email Shelter at: info@shelter.org.uk or call 0300 330 1234. Click here to visit the Shelter website or to make a donation.

We have 5,115 pages of rights advice for you covering 10,878 companies and organisations across 16 public & private sectors. Feel free to browse companies for this specific issue - they're all listed below - but the quickest way to find the best rights for you is by using our unique Rights Finder to access our extensive database of advice.

Start by telling us the name of the company or organisation you have an issue with.

Who do you have an issue with?

Raise it for free via Resolver