Tenant not paying? Let us talk to them before it gets worse
We talk to your tenant, agree a payment plan, or tell you the next step.
- Keeping landlords safe since 1990
- Wimbledon office, 45 Quicks Road
- Every step checked by a person
- Fixed price, shown before you pay
Why it matters
Most arrears start with a problem the tenant hasn't mentioned: a lost job, a benefit delay, a relationship ending. A calm call from someone who does this every week often gets the rent moving again, and it keeps the tenancy instead of ending it. If the tenant won't engage, you need to know quickly which route to take, because waiting only makes the arrears bigger. We do both.
What you get
- We contact your tenant and find out what has gone wrong
- A realistic payment plan, agreed and confirmed in writing
- A check that the first payments arrive
- If the tenant won't engage: a clear recommendation on the next step, in writing
- Notes of every contact, which you will need if it later goes further
Not included
- Serving a notice. If one is needed, our eviction notice service covers it
- Court proceedings or debt collection through the courts
How it works
- 1
Pay and tell us what's happened
How much is owed, since when, and what the tenant has said so far.
- 2
We speak to the tenant
By phone and in writing, calmly, to find out why and what they can pay.
- 3
A plan in writing
An agreed payment plan, confirmed to both of you, and a check on the first payments.
- 4
Or a clear next step
If they won't engage, we tell you which route to take and what it involves.
Common questions
Why not go straight to a notice?
Sometimes that is the right step, and we'll say so. But a notice ends the relationship, takes months to resolve and often recovers less than a payment plan would. Talking first is usually quicker and cheaper.
Will you contact my tenant directly?
Yes. That's the point: the tenant hears from someone neutral, not from you, which often lowers the temperature.
What if the tenant agrees a plan and then stops paying?
You'll have a written record of the agreement and every contact, which helps if you later need to take formal steps. We'll tell you what those steps are.
Do I need to use Rentals and Sales as my letting agent?
No. These are standalone, fixed-fee services for self-managing landlords. You keep managing your property and we do the one job you have paid for.
Which properties do you cover?
Residential lets in England. We are based in Wimbledon and most of our work is in south-west London, but paperwork-based services can be delivered for properties elsewhere in England.
General information for residential lettings in England, not legal advice. Rules depend on the tenancy and can change. Check current government guidance.