What if I Can’t Pay My Rent?
ByKailey Hagen
UpdatedJun 11, 2025
- If you're having trouble paying your rent, check your lease and local tenant protection laws so you know your rights.
- Check with your landlord to see if they'll give you additional time to pay, or waive late fees.
- You can seek various forms of financial help, from federal assistance to debt relief.
Table of Contents
It's a question that's probably passed through all renters' heads at some point: What if I can't pay my rent? It's natural to be concerned about this, but if the situation arises, the important thing is not to panic.
There are strategies you can try to stay in your rental and better manage your ongoing expenses.
Reasons for Not Being Able to Pay Rent
Here are some common financial setbacks that can make it difficult to pay rent:
Job loss
Unforeseen expenses
Unmanageable debt payments
Unexpected move
Regardless of the reason for not being able to pay your rent, the process for resolving this issue remains the same.
What to Do When You Can't Pay Your Rent
If you're not able to pay your rent, take action that may allow you to remain in your rental for the time being.
Start here.
Review your lease
Read your lease terms carefully. Review what it says about when rent payments are due, whether there's a grace period, and when you’ll be subject to eviction. If there's any confusion about what you find there, talk to your landlord for clarification.
Know your rights
Regardless of what your lease says, renters have certain legal rights. These rights vary from state to state, and there may even be laws specific to your town or city about when, why, and how a landlord may evict a tenant.
Knowing what rights apply to you lets you figure out how much time you have to solve the problem. It also tells you what recourse you might have before the landlord can evict you.
Arm yourself with the important facts before you approach your landlord. This will help you know if they are violating your rights. If so, you may need to file a legal complaint against the landlord.
Talk to your landlord
Check with your landlord to see if you can work something out. If you've been a good tenant and have kept up with rent previously, they may give you extra time to pay, or waive any late fees. This is more likely if you can show that the reason you can't pay your rent is temporary. If possible, give the landlord a clear idea of when they can expect payment, and stick to that.
Assuming you and your landlord reach an understanding, try to get them to put it in writing, and have both of you sign the document. Ensure each person gets a copy so you can both refer back to it to make sure you're sticking to your side of the bargain.
Finding a Financial Solution if You Cannot Pay Your Rent
The best way to handle an inability to pay your rent depends on why you're not able to pay, and how long you expect this to be an issue.
Here are some solutions you can try.
Evaluate your budget
Sometimes, it's possible to free up cash in your budget by tracking your purchases over the last few months and identifying areas of overspending. There are budgeting apps that can help you with this if you don't want to deal with maintaining a spreadsheet on your own.
Seek out new employment
Whether or not job loss is the reason you're unable to pay your rent, a new job could be the answer to your problems. If you can find a better-paying job or a side hustle that lets you earn extra cash in your spare time, you may find it easier to keep up with your rent payments.
Sell unused items
If you only expect to have difficulty paying your rent for a month or two, you may be able to make up the difference by selling unused items, like old clothing or unused tools. Do some research online to see how much other people are charging for the same items to get a rough idea of pricing. Then list your item on one or more online marketplaces, or consider hosting a garage sale to make some quick cash.
Seek government assistance
There are several types of government assistance you can look into if you're struggling to pay your rent, including:
Unemployment benefits: If job loss is the reason you can’t pay your rent, unemployment benefits could help you cover some of your bills until you're able to find another job.
Section 8 housing: This is a voucher that can help you pay some or all of your rent for any housing that meets program requirements.
Subsidized housing: In some cases, the government pays apartment owners to reduce the rent for tenants with low incomes.
Programs that reduce other essential costs: Government assistance programs that help with things like food, utilities, and healthcare costs could help you free up cash to put toward your rent payments.
Most federal government assistance programs are administered at the state level, so contact your state's social services agency to apply. It can also help you connect with state and local support programs, as well as charitable organizations.
Exploring Temporary Housing Options
Sometimes, you may have to change your living situation or even leave your home entirely if you can’t pay rent. It's important to understand all the options available to you before making any moves.
Some ideas you can try:
Subletting: If your lease allows you to, consider finding someone to sublet for a short time. This is when another person lives in the rental and pays the rent or a portion of the rent.
Get a roommate: Adding another member of the household can ease the financial burden on you, because you can split the rent.
Staying with friends or family: If you need a place to crash in the short term, reach out to family or friends nearby to see if you can stay with them.
Community shelters: Community shelters can provide temporary housing, as well as food and basic hygiene resources.
Consider your options—including debt relief
Difficulties paying rent are often part of broader financial hardships. You may need some extra help figuring out how to make ends meet from month to month, or deal with debts that have piled up.
Financial counseling can help you with key financial concepts like budgeting and payment management. Debt relief is a stronger form of financial help that could significantly reduce your debts so your finances are easier to handle going forward.
Once you've gotten your financial situation under control, you may want to consider building an emergency fund so you're prepared in case you find yourself unable to pay rent in the future.
Debt relief by the numbers
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking credit card debt relief during May 2025. This data reveals the diversity of individuals seeking help and provides insights into some of their key characteristics.
Credit utilization and debt relief
How are people using their credit before seeking help? Credit utilization measures how much of a credit line is being used. For example, if you have a credit line of $10,000 and your balance is $3,000, that is a credit utilization of 30%. High credit utilization often signals financial stress. We have looked at people who are seeking debt relief and their credit utilization. (Low credit utilization is 30% or less, medium is between 31% and 50%, high is between 51% and 75%, very high is between 76% to 100%, and over-utilized over 100%). In May 2025, people seeking debt relief had an average of 74% credit utilization.
Here are some interesting numbers:
| Credit utilization bucket | Percent of debt relief seekers |
|---|---|
| Over utilized | 30% |
| Very high | 32% |
| High | 19% |
| Medium | 10% |
| Low | 9% |
The statistics refer to people who had a credit card balance greater than $0.
You don't have to have high credit utilization to look for a debt relief solution. There are a number of solutions for people, whether they have maxed out their credit cards or still have a significant part available.
Collection accounts balances – average debt by selected states.
Collection debt is one example of consumers struggling to pay their bills. According to 2023, data from the Urban Institute, 26% of people had a debt in collection.
In May 2025, 30% of debt relief seekers had a collection balance. The average amount of open collection account debt was $3,203.
Here is a quick look at the top five states by average collection debt balance.
| State | % with collection balance | Avg. collection balance |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 23 | $4,899 |
| Montana | 24 | $4,481 |
| Kansas | 32 | $4,468 |
| Nevada | 32 | $4,328 |
| Idaho | 27 | $4,305 |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a collection account balance over $0.
If you’re facing similar challenges, remember you’re not alone. Seeking help is a good first step to managing your debt.
Tackle Financial Challenges
Don’t let debt overwhelm you. Learn more about debt relief options. They can help you tackle your financial challenges. This is true whether you have high credit card balances or many tradelines. Start your path to recovery with the first step.
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Author Information
Written by
Kailey Hagen
Kailey is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional and has been writing about finance, including credit cards, banking, insurance, and retirement, since 2013. Her advice has been featured in major personal finance publications.
What should I do if I can't afford to pay my rent?
First, review your lease agreement, and understand tenant rights in your area. Then reach out to your landlord and communicate your situation. They may give you extra time to pay. You may also want to explore options such as government assistance or debt relief if you expect ongoing difficulties.
What happens if you tell your landlord you can't pay rent?
The outcome depends on several factors, including your payment history, how late you are on your rent, and your landlord. It's possible your landlord will work with you, including waiving late fees or giving you more time to pay, if you have consistently paid your bills on time. Before reaching out, it's worth reviewing your lease and your tenant rights so you're clear on what your landlord is and isn't allowed to do.
What should you do if you lose your job and can't pay rent?
If you lose your job and cannot pay rent, you can apply for unemployment so you can receive some income while you look for another job. You'll also want to communicate the situation to your landlord. They may be willing to give you extra time to pay if they're aware of the circumstances.