Rent payments
Rent payments are the regular amounts a tenant pays you for the right to live in your property under a tenancy agreement. The contract should clearly state how much, how often, for example monthly in advance, and how rent must be paid. This might include bank transfer, standing order etc.
Rent is usually the main source of rental income, and also the baseline for rules on deposit caps, holding deposits and some possession grounds, for example serious rent arrears. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, you are expected to keep clear records of all rent demanded and received, and to provide tenants with receipts or statements on request.
Rent payments must not be padded out with prohibited fees disguised as rent. While you can structure an all inclusive rent that covers bills and Council Tax, you cannot bolt on “admin”, “check-out” or similar charges that fall outside the list of permitted payments.
If a tenant falls behind, you should follow a clear arrears process, including early contact, realistic repayment plans where appropriate, and only then considering possession using the reformed grounds. Robust, transparent handling of rent payments and rent arrears is a key marker of professionalism from the Renters’ Rights Act.
Also see our landlord blog articles as well as our Rent Tracking and Expenses Tracking features.
