What should the Landlord do if the Tenant stops paying the rent?
One of the terms of the contract is that the Tenant must pay the rent. If the Tenant stops paying rent, they are breaking the contract. The Landlord should first write to the Tenant asking them to contact the Landlord to discuss why the rent is not being paid. If they are having financial problems, they could apply for Housing Benefit. If the Tenant is on Housing Benefit and this has stopped, Hounslow Revenue Services should be told that the Landlord is not receiving rent. If the Tenant has a rent problem, you should refer them to the Housing Advice Service who will try to sort out any problems. If there is disrepair at the property, the Tenant may be withholding rent until repairs are made. Tenants should be able to show that they are keeping back the rent, and that it will available once repairs are completed. If these options don’t work, you may consider serving the correct notice and asking the court for possession (see section ‘Ending a tenancy’). This should always be a last reso
