Recover commercial rent arrears
When a business tenant stops paying, landlords have recovery routes that ordinary creditors don’t - including Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR), which lets certificated enforcement agents take control of the tenant’s goods without a court order.
- Route only landlords have
- CRAR, without a court order
- Triggers once
- 7 days’ principal rent is owed
- Notice required
- 14 clear days, doubled on 1 May 2026
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CRAR applies to written leases of purely commercial premises, once at least seven days’ rent is owed. It covers principal rent (not service charges or insurance), requires 14 clear days’ notice of enforcement (doubled from seven on 1 May 2026), and must be carried out by certificated agents - which is why commercial rent arrears work is a specialism, not something every debt collector handles.
The right partner depends on your situation: some landlords want the arrears collected and the tenancy preserved; others are heading for forfeiture and want the debt recovered alongside. Specialist agencies advise on sequencing - because pursuing the wrong route first can accidentally waive rights you’d rather keep.
Collect Compare shows you vetted agencies that actually take commercial rent arrears cases - compared blind on fees, specialisms and verified track record, free for you.
How to choose an agency for commercial rent arrears
- Whether they offer CRAR with certificated enforcement agents
- Experience with your kind of premises and lease
- Fee model - and whether enforcement stages have fixed statutory costs
- Whether they can escalate to forfeiture support or litigation if needed
How agencies charge for commercial rent arrears
Most use one of these, or a blend. The model matters more than the headline rate, because it decides what happens if the debt proves hard to collect.
- No win, no fee
- A share of what is recovered, nothing if nothing comes back.
- Commission
- A share of the recovery, sometimes with a small set-up charge.
- Fixed fee
- A set price per case or per letter, whatever the outcome.
- Blended
- A smaller share plus a modest fixed element.
Compare vetted agencies for commercial rent arrears
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Common questions about commercial rent arrears recovery
What is CRAR?
Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery - a statutory procedure that lets a commercial landlord instruct certificated enforcement agents to take control of a tenant’s goods to recover rent arrears, without going to court first. It applies to written commercial leases once seven days’ rent is owed.
Can I use CRAR for service charges or insurance arrears?
No - CRAR covers principal rent (plus interest and VAT on it) only. Other sums owed under the lease need a different recovery route, which is where a specialist agency or litigation comes in.
Will recovery action end the tenancy?
Not by itself - but the routes interact. Using CRAR can waive a right to forfeit for the arrears in question, so if you might want the premises back, take advice on sequencing before instructing anyone.
What does commercial rent recovery cost a landlord?
CRAR enforcement stages carry fixed statutory fees largely recoverable from the tenant. Agency collection work before enforcement varies by fee model - no-win-no-fee, commission or fixed - which is exactly what you can compare here.
General information, not legal advice. Statutory interest and compensation apply to qualifying commercial debts under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 - our free calculator works out what you can add, at the correct rate for your dates.
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