But it's often possible to sort things out, and the sooner you take action the better. If you do nothing, the situation is likely to get worse, and you might end up having to pay court costs as well as the money you owe.

You may be able to negotiate a payment plan with your landlord so that you can pay off the arrears gradually. And even if your landlord insists on taking you to court, you may not lose your home.

Contact the National Debtline if you need help with your finances. Or visit a local advice centre - use our directory to find one. They may be able to:

• help you work out how you can reduce the arrears
• represent you in court, or put you in touch with a solicitor who can
• help you deal with the housing benefit department, if problems there have caused your arrears
• check exactly how much you owe - this is very important if you're facing eviction - some tenants can only be evicted for large arrears.

If your landlord tries to evict you without following the correct procedure, or tries to force you out by making life difficult for you, then they may be guilty of harassment or illegal eviction, both of which are criminal offences.