Rent arrears is rent money that has not been paid. The consequences of not dealing with rent arrears are serious – facing the risk of eviction from your home, for instance – therefore rent arrears are considered ‘priority debts’.
It is best to act quickly if you are struggling with rent arrears. As well as risking eviction, you may find that the local authority looks at the situation as you having intentionally made yourself homeless, which means they may choose not to rehouse you. It may also be more difficult in the future for you to be approved for credit or receive money from lenders. Contacting your landlord as soon as possible to open a discussion about your difficulties in paying the rent is the best course of action; if you need help with this, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.