The Tenant Arrears Collection Office — Civil Case Management, England & Wales
T·A·C·O Civil Case Management
England & Wales only.  Reflects the Renters' Rights Act 2025, in force from 1 May 2026.  ·  Rent Arrears Framework adopter
Tenant Arrears Collection Office

Rent arrears.
Resolution with teeth.

The Tenant Arrears Collection Office manages civil arrears recovery cases on behalf of private landlords in England & Wales — from formal letter of claim through to County Court Judgment.

I received a letter I am a landlord
Organisation details
Full nameThe Tenant Arrears Collection Office
Trading asThe TACO
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
Process typeCivil case management
LegislationCounty Courts Act 1984
Limitation Act 1980
StatusAccepting cases Active
!
Received correspondence from us? Your case is now active and a formal legal process is underway. Read below to understand exactly what this means and what your options are.
See the process ↓
What we are

A formal civil recovery service for rent arrears in England & Wales.

The Tenant Arrears Collection Office acts on behalf of private landlords to recover outstanding rent arrears through a structured, court-backed process. We manage every stage — from the first formal letter to County Court Judgment.

This is not an informal process. Every case is managed in accordance with the civil procedure rules of England & Wales. Cases that are not resolved through early engagement are progressed to the County Court without delay.

A County Court Judgment, once issued, is a serious and lasting legal consequence. It cannot be easily undone.

Formal process
Every case follows a documented sequence in line with the Rent Arrears Framework and civil procedure rules of England & Wales.
Court-backed
Unresolved cases are filed with the County Court. Judgments are registered on the national Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines.
Proportionate
Resolution is possible at every stage. Early engagement is always the better outcome — and always the cheaper one.
Consistent
Cases are progressed systematically. There is no informal route. Every case that is not resolved follows the same path to court.
The recovery process

What happens at each stage

Cases follow a structured, documented sequence. Engaging before court proceedings are issued limits both the consequences and the costs significantly.

01
Letter of claim
Formal written notice setting out the arrears, the deadline, and what follows if unresolved.
Active stage
02
Response window
Pay, propose a repayment plan, or raise a dispute. No response triggers automatic escalation.
14 days
03
County Court claim
A money claim is filed. The defendant is formally served with 14 days to respond to the court.
Court filing
04
Default judgment
No defence entered — judgment issued automatically, without a hearing. CCJ registered nationally.
No hearing needed
05
Enforcement
Attachment of earnings, third-party debt orders, and referral to enforcement agents become available.
Post-judgment
! What a County Court Judgment means
A CCJ is a serious and lasting legal consequence
A County Court Judgment is a formal court order confirming that a debt is owed. It is registered on the national Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and appears on a credit file for six years. It cannot be undone once issued — even if the debt is paid after the fact.
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Six years on your credit record
Visible to banks, lenders, landlords, and employers for the full six-year period — regardless of whether the debt is paid after judgment.
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Future tenancies at risk
Most letting agents and landlords conduct credit checks during referencing. A CCJ typically results in a failed reference and difficulty securing rental accommodation.
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Borrowing affected
Mortgages, loans, credit cards, and mobile phone contracts may be refused or restricted as a direct result of a CCJ on your record.
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Enforcement becomes available
Once a CCJ is in place, enforcement orders including attachment of earnings — deductions directly from wages — can be applied for without further warning.
↓ What happens if the matter is ignored

Failing to respond does not stop this process. The civil recovery process does not require a debtor's participation to proceed — it only requires a last known address.

Silence is treated as non-engagement
If no response is received within the deadline, the case moves automatically to County Court filing. Court papers are served at the last known address. If those papers go unanswered, judgment is entered without a hearing and without further warning.
The amount owed increases at every stage
Court filing fees, statutory interest on the debt, and potential enforcement costs accumulate at each stage. The amount stated in the letter of claim is the lowest it will be. Engaging early is always the most cost-effective option.
For landlords

Rent arrears.
Resolution with teeth.

The TACO manages your case from first formal letter to County Court Judgment — handling correspondence, court submissions, deadlines, and follow-through entirely on your behalf. Flat annual subscription. A small percentage of what we recover. Nothing until you get paid.

Formal letter of claim
Issued under TACO letterhead. Designed to be taken seriously from the first read.
Court claim filed for you
All paperwork, submissions, and court deadlines handled on your behalf.
Full case management
You submit the case. We track, chase, and update you at every stage.
CCJ & enforcement support
We see it through to judgment and advise on enforcement options beyond.
View pricing and get started →

Your rights in this process. The civil court process gives you the right to admit, dispute, or make proposals regarding a debt before judgment is entered. You must act within the deadlines stated in your correspondence to exercise those rights.

Free independent advice is available. Citizens Advice, StepChange, and National Debtline can provide free guidance on your rights and options. Or use the online case portal if you have your reference number to hand.

@ Contact us

To discuss an active case, make a payment arrangement, or raise a query — contact us directly using the details below. Please have your case reference number to hand.

Telephone
07498 173106
Rent Arrears Framework adopterThe TACO voluntarily operates in accordance with the Rent Arrears Framework — an independent guidance initiative for the private rental sector of England & Wales. rentarrearsframework.com