Residential Tenancy Rent Arrears and Breaches Templates

A landlord may need to take formal action when a tenant does not comply with the terms of their tenancy agreement. This may include late or unpaid rent, or breaches of other tenancy conditions. Taking early, proportionate action can help landlords resolve issues quickly while protecting the value of their investment. 

Rent Arrears 

Rent arrears should be addressed promptly and in a structured way. Using a clear sequence of written correspondence allows landlords to maintain a record of all attempts to resolve the issue, which later can be relied upon as evidence should the matter proceed to court. 

The Recover Rent Arrears from Residential Tenants Guidance is a crucial document for landlords, setting out the steps that can be taken when a tenant falls into arrears. 

Rent Arrears Template Letters

Landlords can access a range of professionally drafted template letters designed o support a staged and proportionate approach to rent arrears recovery. As a first step, landlords can use reminder to pay letter templates for single or joint tenants. If the tenant fails to respond or the arrears persist, landlords can then issue Letters of Claim for Rent as a follow up. 

Where no response is received and arrears remain unpaid, landlords should consider using  Pre-Action Protocol letters.

Breach of Tenancy Template Letters

Not all issues relate to rent arrears. Where a tenant breaches other terms of the tenancy agreement, landlords can also take a structured approach using written warnings. 

A landlord may issue a First Letter regarding Breach of the Tenancy Agreement, clearly setting out the issue and requesting the tenant remedy the breach. 

If the breach continues, this can be followed by a Second Letter regarding Breach of the Tenancy Agreement, reinforcing the seriousness of the matter and the potential consequences. 

These templates are suitable for England only. 

Landlords can select the appropriate document below depending on the situation and they tenancy type:

• Guidance Notes: Recovery of Rent Arrears from Residential Tenants
• Reminder to Pay Rent on Time Letter – Single Tenant
• Rent Arrears Letter – Single Tenant
• Letter of Claim for Rent Arrears – Single Tenant
• Letter - 14 Days’ Notice of Court Proceedings to Recover Rent Arrears from Single Tenant
• Reminder to Pay Rent on Time Letter - Joint Tenants
• Rent Arrears Letter – Joint Tenants
• Letter of Claim for Rent Arrears – Joint Tenants
• Letter - 14 Days’ Notice of Court Proceedings to Recover Rent Arrears from Joint Tenants
• First Letter regarding a Breach of the Tenancy Agreement
• Second Letter regarding a Breach of the Tenancy Agreement

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