Offsetting rent arrears because repairs haven't been done

Set-off is a defence to possession proceedings for rent arrears. It means that you accept you owe your landlord money, but you claim the right to set-off against that debt any money due from your landlord because of their failure to do repairs. This could reduce or clear your rent arrears.

Check what your landlord has to repair.

When you can use set-off as a defence

Rent arrears can only be offset if the problem that needs repairing existed when your landlord made the possession claim against you.

If the problems happened after your landlord made a possession claim, you might not be allowed to use the landlord's failure to make repairs as a defence to the possession proceedings.

You'll also need to show that the set-off arises because:

• your landlord has broken your tenancy agreement by not doing repairs which they're responsible for, and
• the landlord has had notice of the repairs, and
• the landlord hasn’t done anything about the repairs within a reasonable period of time, and
• you’ve suffered loss and inconvenience as a result.

If you successfully argue for set-off

The judge could still make a possession order if the damages aren’t enough to clear your rent arrears. This means that it’s very important for you to continue to pay your rent and an amount towards the arrears until you know the outcome of the possession hearing.

How you can raise the set-off defence

The defence should be raised in response to your landlord’s claim for possession. It will usually be accompanied by a counterclaim which explains that your landlord has failed in their repair obligations and the damage suffered because of this. You may need help from an adviser to do this.

• More about getting advice

If your tenancy agreement says you can't offset rent arrears

A term in a tenancy agreement which says that you can’t offset rent arrears is likely to be unfair and could be challenged.

Next steps

• Other options for private rented tenants to deal with repairs
• Other options for social housing tenants to deal with repairs
• Common repair problems