The Rent Hasn’t Arrived. What Should a Landlord Do Next?

Updated September 2026

Information only – this article is intended as general guidance for landlords in England and should not be treated as legal advice.

A tenant’s rent is due.

The day passes.

Nothing arrives.

For a landlord, it’s very easy to wonder whether to chase immediately, give it a few days or simply assume there has been a banking problem.

Our view is straightforward: don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either.

A late payment doesn’t automatically mean you have a serious arrears problem. But dealing with it early and calmly gives you the best chance of understanding what has happened before a small issue becomes a much bigger one.

Start by checking the facts

Before contacting the tenant, make sure the rent really is outstanding.

Check the tenancy records, expected payment date and bank account. If the payment normally arrives by standing order, bear in mind weekends and bank holidays.

Once you’re satisfied it hasn’t arrived, make contact.

You don’t need to begin with a formal letter or a confrontational message. A simple, polite enquiry may be all that is needed.

There could be a genuine explanation – a banking problem, a change in payday or an unexpected financial difficulty.

The important thing is to find out.

Make contact early

Leaving missed rent untouched for several weeks rarely makes the situation easier.

Early communication gives both landlord and tenant an opportunity to understand what is happening and where appropriate, agree a sensible way forward.

If you speak by telephone, follow the conversation up in writing so there is a clear record of what was discussed and any arrangements made.

As Lisa Bailey of Personal Economy Lettings explains:

“The worst thing you can do with rent arrears is ignore them and hope they sort themselves out. A calm conversation early on can often stop a small problem becoming a much bigger one.”

If the tenant is struggling

Sometimes a tenant who has always paid reliably experiences a temporary problem.

If you decide to agree a repayment arrangement, make sure it is realistic and put it in writing.

Record:

• the amount currently outstanding

• what the tenant has agreed to pay

• when those payments are due

• how the arrangement will deal with the ongoing monthly rent

Then monitor it.

An arrangement that isn’t being followed shouldn’t simply be allowed to drift indefinitely.

Keep a clear rent record

If arrears eventually become more serious, accurate records matter.

Keep a clear rent schedule showing what was due, what was actually received and the running balance.

Retain copies of relevant emails, letters and agreed repayment plans too.

Under the possession rules applying in England since 1 May 2026, rent arrears can form the basis of possession proceedings. Ground 8 can apply where a monthly-paying tenant owes at least three months’ rent at both the time notice is served and the court hearing. Grounds 10 and 11 can also cover arrears and persistent late payment, although these are discretionary grounds. The current notice period for these rent-arrears grounds is four weeks.

That doesn’t mean formal possession action should be the first response to a late payment.

It does mean good records and prompt action become increasingly important if the situation continues.

Rent monitoring matters

One of the simplest ways of stopping arrears from quietly building is knowing quickly when an expected payment hasn’t arrived.

At Personal Economy Lettings, rent monitoring is included across all of our services.

That means landlords are not left wondering whether the rent has been paid. Late or missed payments can be identified and followed up promptly.

For landlords wanting another layer of security, our Protected Let service also includes arrears management and Rent & Legal Protection, alongside our wider compliance and tenancy support.

You remain the landlord and retain your tenant relationship.

We provide the practical support around you.

The important thing? Don’t let it drift

One late payment may be nothing more than a simple oversight.

Several missed payments can look very different.

Knowing early gives you choices.

You can speak to the tenant, understand the situation, keep appropriate records and decide what needs to happen next – rather than discovering weeks later that the problem has grown.

If you’re a landlord who would prefer someone else to keep an eye on the rent while you stay in control of your property, that is exactly the sort of practical support we provide.

Personal Economy Lettings

0117 9856703
personaleconomylettings.co.uk

Helping landlords stay confidently in control.