Priority Debts

Priority debt are debts which can lead to unavoidable consequences if they are not paid. Examples of priority debts include mortgage payments, rent payments, hire purchase and electricity suppliers.

One Advice can offer you free debt advice, no matter what type of debt you are struggling with. For free and ethical debt advice on your priority debts, contact our team on 0800 048 1752.

Priority Debt Guide

•  Priority Debt If you are in debt and find that you are struggling to make payments, then it is important that you prioritise your debt. You should see which ones are priority debts and which ones are non-priority debts...

• Council Tax Debt The amount of Council Tax that you pay is dependant on the value of your home as well as how many adults are living there and their employment status. Remember that council tax is a priority debt...

• Mortgage and Rent Arrears Mortgage and Rent arrears should be treated as a priority debt as failure to make payments could mean that your home could be repossessed or your landlord can evict you from the rented property...

• Hire Purchase Debt Unlike a normal credit agreement, a hire-purchase or conditional-sale agreement means that the goods are not yours until you have paid for the item in full... 

• Gas and Electricity Debt Your gas and electricity bills are counted as priority debt, so if you find that you are in arrears it is important that you seek advice as soon as possible...

• Child Maintenance Payments Child Maintenance Payments should always be considered as a priority debt. The court could decide to insist that bailiffs go to your home in order to pay off these arrears...