bpha's approach to rent arrears is to be firm but fair. bpha has to be firm to ensure it gets the money needed in order to provide a good service and protect the majority of its residents who pay their rent.

If you are in rent arrears, bpha will:

• Visit you at home or interview you privately at our office
• Help you as much as possible so you can keep your home
• Keep information about your circumstances private.

We will contact you within three days if your rent is late. If you cannot pay the overdue amount straight away, we will make a payment agreement with you. This will be your weekly rent, plus an agreed amount paid each week to reduce the arrears.

bpha will make regular checks to ensure you are keeping to the payment agreement. You are responsible for ensuring payment reaches your account by the due date.

If you do not keep to your payment agreement, bpha will take legal action and you may be evicted.

If you receive a Notice of Seeking Possession you have four weeks in which to start reducing your arrears by an acceptable and agreed amount. If you do not do this and fail to keep to a repayment agreement, bpha will apply to court to request a possession hearing. You will be notified that we have applied to court, and again when a hearing date has been arranged.

At court you will have an opportunity to tell the Judge what you intend to do about your arrears.

bpha will consider a payment proposal made by a tenant at any point before eviction is sought.