Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery

Commercial rent arrears recovery, or CRAR, is a statutory procedure that allows a qualifying commercial landlord to use the taking control of goods process to recover rent payable under a lease. It is not a general debt collection procedure and specific statutory conditions must be satisfied.

The legislation provides that CRAR can be used by a landlord under a lease of commercial premises to recover rent payable under that lease. The procedure involves taking control of qualifying goods rather than simply allowing a landlord to seize goods personally.

Debt Recovery Hub does not carry out CRAR enforcement itself. We help identify independent providers that may be appropriate for your circumstances.

If your enquiry involves other commercial debts alongside rent, our business debt recovery service may be relevant as well.

Yes. Debt Recovery Hub can help landlords looking for commercial rent arrears recovery support by considering the information provided about the debt and identifying a vetted recovery provider with relevant experience. You can then review the provider's proposed service before deciding whether to proceed.

Useful information can include the amount outstanding, how long the rent has been unpaid, details of the tenant, the property circumstances, supporting documents and whether the amount is disputed.

This information helps us understand the nature and complexity of the enquiry. Our matching approach is designed around the individual case rather than assuming that one recovery company will be appropriate for every creditor.

Debt Recovery Hub is an information and referral service rather than the recovery provider itself.

You can also learn more about our approach on the About Debt Recovery Hub page.

CRAR is specifically intended for qualifying commercial premises and is not a general recovery procedure for residential property. Government guidance states that CRAR requires commercial premises and a lease, and that the procedure can only be used to recover rent.

This distinction matters where a property has mixed use, where the occupier does not have the type of lease required, or where the amount claimed includes sums other than rent. In these situations, the circumstances should be assessed before assuming that commercial rent arrears recovery through CRAR is available.

A suitable recovery provider can review the relevant documentation and explain which debt recovery options may apply to the circumstances. If the matter involves a wider business debt, you can also explore our business debt recovery service for support with other types of outstanding commercial debts.

If your enquiry concerns a wider property debt rather than straightforward commercial rent, you can start with our commercial debt recovery service and explain the circumstances in your enquiry. Where the amount owed arises from a contractual obligation, our contract debt recovery service may also be relevant.

CRAR is concerned with rent payable under a qualifying commercial lease and should not automatically be used to recover service charges, utilities, insurance or other additional property costs. Government guidance specifically distinguishes pure rent from other amounts that may appear on a commercial property account.

This means that a landlord should establish what makes up the outstanding balance before choosing a recovery route.

For example, a tenant may owe both rent and service charges. The fact that both amounts appear on the same statement does not necessarily mean they can be recovered using the same statutory procedure.

Debt Recovery Hub can consider the wider circumstances when assessing your enquiry. If your case involves several types of commercial debt, explain the different amounts rather than describing the entire balance simply as rent arrears.

Our business debt recovery service may also be relevant where amounts fall outside the scope of CRAR.

A lease is an important requirement for CRAR. Government guidance states that the procedure is available to a landlord of commercial premises where there is a lease, and the legislation provides for CRAR to recover rent payable under a lease of commercial premises.

This means that the contractual arrangement with the occupier should be considered before assuming that CRAR is available.

When making an enquiry through Debt Recovery Hub, information about the lease can therefore be useful. Supporting documentation may help a recovery provider understand the circumstances and assess the appropriate route.

The nature of the property and occupation arrangements can also matter, particularly where the premises have mixed use or the agreement is not a straightforward commercial lease.

If the amount owed arises from a wider contractual relationship, you can also review our contract debt recovery service for an alternative starting point.

CRAR is a statutory route that can allow a qualifying commercial landlord to recover rent through the taking control of goods procedure without first obtaining a court judgment. However, this does not mean that every commercial rent dispute can be dealt with through CRAR.

The legislation sets out specific requirements concerning the premises, lease and rent being recovered. Where those requirements are not met, another recovery route may need to be considered.

There can also be circumstances involving disputed debts, insolvency or other legal issues where professional advice is appropriate before enforcement action is taken.

Debt Recovery Hub can help you find a suitable provider based on the information you submit, rather than assuming that CRAR is automatically the correct option.

If you already have a County Court Judgment relating to a commercial debt, our CCJ debt recovery service may be more relevant.

Providing clear information about the rent arrears, tenant, property, lease and available documentation can help Debt Recovery Hub understand your circumstances and identify providers with relevant experience. Details about the amount owed, age of the debt and whether the balance is disputed can also be useful.

You can also explain what has already happened. For example, you may have contacted the tenant directly, received a promise of payment, attempted a payment arrangement or encountered difficulties communicating with the tenant.

Supporting information can help provide a clearer picture of the case. Depending on the circumstances, this could include lease documentation, statements, correspondence or evidence relating to the outstanding balance.

Debt Recovery Hub considers factors such as debt type, value, location, available documentation and potential complications when assessing enquiries.

If the debt is disputed or includes other amounts, make this clear when using our business debt recovery service.

You can submit an enquiry where commercial rent arrears are disputed, but the nature of the dispute may affect which recovery approach is appropriate. Providing details of what the tenant disputes and the documentation available can help a recovery provider understand the circumstances before recommending a course of action.

A disputed account can be different from straightforward unpaid rent. The disagreement might concern the amount owed, the lease, payments already made, responsibility for particular charges or another contractual issue.

This is why Debt Recovery Hub asks about potential complications as part of its enquiry process. The information supplied helps identify providers whose experience may be relevant to the particular case.

Debt Recovery Hub itself does not provide legal advice or act as the enforcement agent. Its role is to introduce users to independent providers that may be able to assist.

If the dispute concerns wider contractual obligations, our contract debt recovery service may provide another route for finding suitable support.

After you submit an enquiry, Debt Recovery Hub reviews the information provided about the debt and circumstances before identifying a vetted debt recovery company with relevant experience. You can then consider the provider's service, fees and terms before deciding whether you want to proceed.

The purpose of this process is to make finding suitable recovery support easier. Whether you need help with commercial rent arrears, unpaid business debts or another type of commercial debt, providing clear information helps establish what type of recovery support may be relevant.

Information considered can include the debt type, amount, age, debtor details, location, available documentation and potential complications. These factors help determine which type of recovery provider may be relevant to the case. If the outstanding amount relates to a wider business debt, you can also explore our business debt recovery service.

Submitting your details does not require you to appoint the provider introduced to you. The decision remains with you after you have reviewed the information provided by the independent company.

If the debt involves an unpaid contractual obligation, our contract debt recovery service may also be relevant. For debts that have already resulted in a County Court Judgment, you can explore our CCJ debt recovery service.

If your enquiry involves several unpaid commercial accounts rather than one rent debt, you can use our commercial debt recovery support to explain the wider circumstances.