Rent Protection policy

This Rent Protection Policy outlines the circumstances under which lettingaproperty.com will make rent protection payments to landlords in the event of rent arrears.

Rent Protection Policy

Effective Date: 23 April 2025 | Updated 15 July 2025

Applies To: Landlords on Rent Assured and Complete Care plans

1. Policy Purpose

This Rent Protection Policy sets out the circumstances under which lettingaproperty.com will make rent protection payments to landlords where tenants are in genuine arrears. It provides protection for unexpected non-payment of rent during the recovery process.

It is not intended to cover repeated late payments where landlords rely on lettingaproperty.com to advance rent and recover arrears. This policy is not a credit facility.

2. Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for rent protection, all of the following must apply:

• The property is let under a fixed-term assured shorthold tenancy agreement of at least 12 months.

• The tenancy deposit is protected by lettingaproperty.com.

• The tenant has not paid rent directly to the landlord.

• There are no unresolved maintenance or repair issues causing the arrears.

• The landlord has not entered a payment arrangement with the tenant without lettingaproperty.com’s written consent.

• The landlord authorises lettingaproperty.com to serve statutory and contractual notices (e.g. Section 8).

• The tenant has not been late paying rent for three consecutive months where lettingaproperty.com advanced payments and pursued arrears. Repeated late payment (three or more consecutive late payments) will result in withdrawal of rent protection.

• An Assignment of Debt must be signed before any payment is made.

• A Landlord Declaration must be signed before each subsequent payment.

3. Policy Limits

Payments stop once:

• The rent protection limit is reached

• Vacant possession is gained

• Arrears are cleared

4. Rent Arrears Handling

Rent Assured

After 2 months of unpaid rent:

• Notify landlord and tenant

• Issue Section 8 notice (signed by landlord)

• Confirm compliance (certificates, repairs)

• Request signed Assignment of Debt and Landlord Declaration

• Issue first payment

Complete Care

After 1 month of unpaid rent:

Request signed Assignment of Debt and Landlord Declaration

Issue first payment within 5 business days

After 2 months of arrears:

Issue Section 8 notice and second payment (subject to Landlord Declaration)

Continue monthly payments until limits are reached or possession is gained.

5. Possession Proceedings

Payments depend on the landlord authorising lettingaproperty.com to issue and serve required legal notices. Refusal voids rent protection.

6. Costs, Deductions and Recoveries

• £120 end-of-tenancy fee applies to all plans

• Outstanding fees may be deducted from payments or tenancy deposits

• If no professional inventory is provided at check-out, the full deposit may be applied to arrears

• Overpayments will be recovered from landlords

• lettingaproperty.com may pursue tenants for arrears and retain recovered funds up to the amount paid out; surplus returned to landlord

• See: What is an Assignment of Debt and why do we ask for it?

7. Termination of Benefit

Rent protection ends immediately if:

• The landlord negotiates directly with the tenant

• The landlord refuses eviction once authorised

• There is an unresolved counterclaim by the tenant

• The landlord breaches any requirement in this policy

• The tenant is late paying rent for three consecutive months with lettingaproperty.com advancing payments and recovering arrears

• The landlord fails to provide a signed Assignment of Debt or Landlord Declaration when requested

8. Additional Information

This policy may be amended and forms part of our Terms of Business. Payments may be paused while legal matters are resolved.

For support, contact accounts@lettingaproperty.com or 01564 492 964.