Money Claim Online for rent arrears

Money Claim Online for rent arrears is the online county court route for recovering unpaid rent as a debt, usually from a former tenant or a guarantor. GOV.UK now sends new online claimants to the Civil Money Claims service, while MCOL continues for some claims. The issue fee depends on the amount and is the same online or on paper, and you should send a letter before claim and wait 30 days first.

This page covers landlords in England. If the tenant is still in the property, you can claim the arrears inside your possession claim instead; see claiming rent arrears in your possession claim.

When to use Money Claim Online for rent arrears

Situation	Best route
Tenant still in the property and you want possession	Add the arrears to the possession claim (no extra fee)
Tenant has left owing rent	A money claim against the former tenant
A guarantor signed for the rent	A money claim against the guarantor, alone or with the tenant
You already have a money order from the possession claim	No new claim: enforce the order
The debtor is in a Breathing Space	Wait: no money claim can be issued until it ends

For the full decision, see recovering arrears after the tenant has left.

Who can claim online

According to GOV.UK's "Make a court claim for money" (updated 5 October 2026), you can't use the online service if:

• there is more than one claimant, for example joint landlords both claiming;
• you are claiming against 3 or more defendants;
• any party doesn't have an address in England or Wales; or
• the amount is unknown.

MCOL has a maximum claim value of £99,999.99. If the online route isn't available, use paper form N1, sent to the Civil National Business Centre in Northampton.

Before you claim: the letter before claim

The Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims applies to a business claiming a debt from an individual. It doesn't say whether a private landlord counts as a business, so the safe course is to follow it:

1. Post a dated letter of claim (email can be used as well), setting out the amount, whether interest continues, the tenancy details and how to pay.
2. Enclose an up-to-date statement of account, the protocol's Information Sheet and Reply Form, and a Financial Statement.
3. Wait 30 days from the date on the letter. If the debtor says they're getting debt advice, allow at least 30 days from their reply.
4. If talks fail, give 14 days' notice before you issue.

The court can take non-compliance into account on costs and interest. Use the letter before claim template.

How to make a money claim for rent arrears, step by step

1. Fix the amount from a rent schedule: rent due, payments made, running balance, less any deposit deduction.
2. Decide on interest. GOV.UK says the rate for this kind of debt is usually 8%. Interest counts towards the claim value and the fee band.
3. Choose the route: the Civil Money Claims service (moneyclaims.service.gov.uk), MCOL (moneyclaim.gov.uk) for claims it still handles, or paper form N1.
4. Pay the issue fee (table below).
5. The defendant responds, by paying, admitting, or defending.
6. If there's no response, request default judgment online, or on form N225 or N227.
7. If the claim is defended and worth £10,000 or less, it is referred to compulsory free HMCTS mediation. If that fails, it goes to a hearing, and a hearing fee is payable.
8. Once you have judgment, enforce it if it isn't paid. See getting a CCJ for unpaid rent.

Money claim fees from 13 July 2026

Claim value (including interest)	Issue fee
Up to £300	£35
£300.01 to £500	£50
£500.01 to £1,000	£70
£1,000.01 to £1,500	£80
£1,500.01 to £3,000	£115
£3,000.01 to £5,000	£205
£5,000.01 to £10,000	£455
£10,000.01 to £200,000	5% of the claim

If a small claim is defended, the hearing fee runs from £27 (up to £300) to £346 (over £3,000). For the full list, see possession claim court fees.

Worked example

A former tenant owes £1,850 after the deposit was used. Your letter of claim, dated 2 November 2026, gets no reply, so from 2 December 2026 you can issue.

• Interest at 8% a year for about 6 months adds roughly £74, so the claim is about £1,924.
• That stays in the £1,500.01 to £3,000 band: issue fee £115.
• If the former tenant defends, the claim goes to mediation first. If it reaches a small claims hearing, the hearing fee in that band is £181.
• If they don't respond, you request default judgment and then enforce.

Mistakes to avoid

• Issuing before the 30 days under the protocol have passed.
• Joint landlords both claiming online, which the service doesn't allow.
• Forgetting that interest can push the claim into a higher fee band.
• Claiming while the debtor is in a Breathing Space.
• Using a money claim when the tenant is still there and you want possession too; add the arrears to the possession claim instead.

What to do next

Send the letter before claim first. If you're claiming from a guarantor, read claiming rent arrears from a guarantor. Once you have judgment, getting a CCJ for unpaid rent explains the enforcement options. The rent arrears guide covers every step from the first missed payment.