Is personal housing assistance (APL, ALF or ALS) maintained in the event of unpaid rent?
Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Modification of the procedure in case of non-payment
The procedure in case of unpaid rent is modified.
That's what the law of 27 july 2023 to protect housing against illegal occupation.
A decree must be issued to clarify the mechanism.
The information contained on this page remains current and will be modified as soon as the text enters into force.
In case of unpaid rent, personal housing assistance (APL, ALS and ALF) can be maintained to alleviate a rent debt and avoid eviction. The situation varies depending on whether the aid is paid to the landlord or at tenant.
To the landlord
There is unpaid rent when the tenant has a debt at least equal to 2 times the net monthly amount of rent and charges.
The net monthly rental amount corresponds to the rent shown on the lease, net of the amount of housing assistance.
As soon as the unpaid amount is established, the lessor has 2 months to report it to the Caf (or MSA).
The report should preferably be made by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt. It must mention the name, address of the tenant, the amount and period of the rent debt.
Warning
the lessor risks a fine of €8,010.00 if he does not report the unpaid rent to the Caf (or the MSA).
The Caf (or MSA) can also take self-action if it is aware of an unpaid rent that has not been reported to it.
Once the lessor has reported the outstanding payment, the Caf (or the MSA) asks the lessor to set up a clearance plan debt. This plan is a schedule for the repayment of the debt that the landlord sets up with the tenant.
If the lessor does not comply with its obligation to set up a clearance plan, the Caf (or the MSA) shall refer the matter to the Solidarity Fund for Housing (SLF) so he can make a clearance plan debt.
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In the event of a lessor's clearance plan
The debt repayment plan must be implemented in a maximum period of 6 months.
This plan is a document that consists in setting the conditions of repayment of unpaid rent (amount, deadline...).
The payment of aid to the housing is then held if the 2 conditions the following are completed:
- The clearance plan is respected and accepted by the Caf (or the MSA)
- The tenant has resumed payment of the current rent.
Without receipt of the discharge plan within the deadline and after formal notice of the lessor, the Caf (or the MSA) must seize the FSL. The SLF then has 3 months to establish a clearance plan.
If the 3-month deadline is not respected by the FSL, the Caf (or the MSA) itself sets up a clearance plan.
In the event of an FSL clearance plan
The Caf (or the MSA) can directly refer the matter to the LSP by asking it to make known its clearance plan within a period of 6 months.
After receipt of the clearance plan, the Caf (or the MSA) maintain payment housing assistance provided that the tenant resumes payment of the current rent.
In the event of poor execution of the payment plan or non-payment of the rent in progress, the Caf (or the MSA) suspends the payment of housing assistance.
Where the LSP does not make its clearance plan known on time, the Caf (or the MSA) formal notice the tenant to resume payment of the current rent.
The tenant must also repay all of his debt. It must pay each month to the lessor 1/36e of its debt for 3 years from the month following the formal notice.
Without resumption of payment or in the event of poor execution of the plan, the Caf (or the MSA) suspend payment housing assistance.
To the tenant
Unpaid rent occurs when the tenant has a debt at least equal to 2 times the gross monthly amount of rent and charges.
The gross monthly rental amount corresponds to the rent included in the lease.
As soon as the unpaid amount is established, the lessor has 2 months to report it to the Caf (or MSA).
The report should preferably be made by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt. It must mention the name, address of the tenant, the amount and period of the rent debt.
Warning
the lessor risks a fine of €8,010.00 if he fails to report the unpaid rent to the Caf (or the MSA).
The Caf (or MSA) can also take self-action if it is aware of an unpaid rent that has not been reported to it. It can suspend or maintain the payment of housing assistance.
Once the lessor has reported the outstanding payment, the Caf (or the MSA) asks the lessor to set up a clearance plan debt. This plan is a schedule for the repayment of the debt that the landlord sets up with the tenant.
If the lessor does not comply with its obligation to put in place a clearance plan, the Caf (or MSA) shall refer the matter to the Solidarity Fund for Housing (SLF) to make a plan to clear the debt.
The Caf (or the MSA) must propose to the lessor to obtain the payment in third-party payment (i.e. in the place of the tenant). The lessor has 2 months to answer. Beyond that, his silence is a refusal.
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In the event of a lessor's clearance plan
The Caf (or the MSA) may request the lessor to draw up a debt repayment plan within a maximum period of 6 months (2 months if the lessor refused the third-party payment).
This plan is a document that consists in setting the conditions of repayment of unpaid rent (amount, deadline...).
The payment housing assistance is then provided held if the 2 conditions the following are completed:
- The clearance plan is respected and approved by the Caf (or the MSA)
- The tenant has resumed payment of the current rent.
Without receipt of the discharge plan within the deadline and after formal notice of the lessor, the Caf (or the MSA) seizes the FSL.
The SLF then has a period of 3 months to establish a clearance plan.
If the 3-month deadline is not respected by the FSL, the Caf (or the MSA) itself sets up a clearance plan.
In the event of an FSL clearance plan
The Caf (or the MSA) can directly refer the matter to the LSP by asking it to make known its clearance plan within a period of 6 months.
After receipt of the clearance plan, the Caf (or the MSA) maintain payment housing assistance on condition that the tenant resumes payment of the rent in progress.
In case of improper execution of the plan for payment or non-payment of the rent in progress, the Caf (or the MSA) suspend payment housing assistance.
Where the LSP does not make its clearance plan known on time, the Caf (or the MSA) formal notice the tenant to resume payment of the current rent.
The tenant must also repay all of his debt. It must pay each month to the lessor 1/36e of its debt for 3 years from the month following the formal notice.
Without resumption of payment or in the event of poor execution of the plan, the Caf (or the MSA) suspend payment housing assistance.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
SOS unpaid rent
Support, advice and prevention service in case of risk of eviction due to unpaid rent. This service informs tenants, such as landlords, free of charge.
By phone
0,805,160,075 monday to friday
Toll-free number: free call and service, from a landline or mobile phone
Threshold for the establishment of an unpaid amount
Recourse to the Solidarity Fund for Housing
Allowance paid to the lessor
Continuation or non-continuation of the payment of personal housing assistance
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