A document which explains the reason for taking legal action.

• See Starting a claim

A payment of housing benefit that the council has to make if it is unable to assess a claim within 14 days, and all the necessary information and documents have been provided. They are sometimes known as an ‘interim payment’.

• See Waiting for a benefit payment

With this kind of mortgage you use part of your pension fund to pay off the loan. This type is mainly suited to self-employed people and higher rate taxpayers.

• See Repayment options

A very low rent. The term is often used for ground rent charges on a leasehold property, and may only be a few pounds a year.

• See Ground rent

A tenancy that rolls from week to week or month to month with no fixed end date. All fixed-term tenancies become periodic when the initial fixed term has ended and no new agreement has been made.

• See Renting agreements

A court order that tells an occupier to leave a property by a certain date and gives the landlord or lender the right to use the property as they wish. Possession orders can be suspended or postponed (which means that the occupier can stay as long as certain conditions are met) or outright (which means that if they do not leave by the date given, the lender or landlord can ask the court bailiffs to evict them).

• See Court orders (if you are renting)
• See What the court can do (if you are a homeowner)

A court order which allows you to stay in your home as long as you keep to certain conditions. These conditions will be explained on the court order. For example you may be ordered to pay off rent you owe at a certain amount each week or not to cause further disturbance to your neighbours. If you don't stick to all of the conditions of the order your landlord can apply to the court for the bailiffs to evict you.

• See Court orders (if you are renting)
• See What the court can do (if you are a homeowner)

The steps that must be followed before court action can be started. Preaction protocols only exist for certain types of cases, including mortgage arrears cases, and disrepair cases. If a pre-action protocol exists but is not followed, it may be possible to ask for an adjournment.

• See Special rules for social housing tenants (rent arrears)  
• See Steps before court action (mortgage arrears)

An estimate of the maximum amount of housing benefit that the council is likely to pay if you move into a particular property. Getting a pre-tenancy determination before deciding whether to take on a tenancy can help people to avoid having to make up large shortfalls in housing benefit due from their other income or savings.

• See Housing benefit calculations

One of the assessments the council will carry out if you apply as homeless. If you are in priority need then the council will usually have to house you, at least temporarily. You could be in priority need if you or a member of your household:

• are pregnant or responsible for dependent children
• were made homeless by a fire, flood or other disaster
• are elderly, disabled or have mental health problems
• are fleeing violence or harassment
• are aged 16 or 17 (although in almost all cases social services will be responsible for looking after you)
  
• have been in care
• are particularly vulnerable for other special reasons.

• See Priority need

Debts where the consequences of not paying can result in losing your home, your belongings, or having your gas, water, or electricity cut off. Other debts – such as unpaid taxes or court fines are a priority because failure to pay them could result in you going to prison.

• See Priority and non-priority debts

This is a new term used to describe registered social landlords (RSLs). A PRPSH is a housing association or other organisation that provides accommodation at lower rents than private landlords and is registered with the Homes and Communities Agency(HCA) Regulation Committee.

• See Housing associations

If you are struggling with your mortgage payments, these schemes can offer buy your home from you and rent it back to you. This allows you to stay in your current home as a tenant after you have sold it. However, these schemes can be very risky and you could end up being evicted quite easily. Extreme caution and independent advice are essential.

• See Private sale and rent back

A type of tenancy that some private tenants may have if they have lived in their accommodation for a long time (usually since before 1989). Regulated tenants have very strong rights. Also known as a 'regulated' tenancy.

• See Regulated tenancies