A money claim asks for payment. It does not itself recover possession. The underlying tenancy and rent liability still need to be assessed under the property's country-specific law.
Check the claim
- Identify the legal landlord and defendant rather than a trading name or informal contact.
- Reconcile the debt and account for deposit recovery, guarantor payments and agreed credits.
- Review any repair counterclaim, unfitness issue, debt protection or dispute affecting the amount.
Follow the pre-action process
- Check whether the Debt Claims Protocol applies to the business creditor and individual debtor, and whether another procedure is relevant.
- Provide the required statement, documents, forms and response time. Allow for requests for information or debt advice as required.
- Consider a reasonable repayment or settlement proposal and record why it is accepted or rejected.
Prepare and maintain the case
- Use the appropriate current court route and accurate service details. Obtain advice where jurisdiction or service is uncertain.
- Keep the evidence concise, dated and linked to the amount claimed.
- Update the court and account for later payments. Consider enforcement separately if judgment is obtained.
Example: a disputed invoice is included
A fictional rent claim also includes a cleaning invoice. Separate the items and establish the legal and factual basis for each. Calling the entire total rent arrears does not make an unsupported cleaning charge recoverable.
What to do
- Verify the parties, debt, address and applicable pre-action procedure.
- Send the required letter and supporting information with the correct response period.
- Review the response and evidence before filing.
Evidence to keep
- Agreement, rent changes, schedule, receipts and disputed-liability records.
- Pre-action letter, enclosures, delivery, reply and settlement proposals.
Sources and guidance
- Pre-action protocol for debt claimsMinistry of Justice · checked 20 October 2026
- Standard occupation contracts: guidance on the termsWelsh Government · checked 20 October 2026
- Assured periodic tenancies: landlord guideUK Government · checked 20 October 2026
- Debt Respite Scheme: guidance for creditorsInsolvency Service · checked 20 October 2026