Short answer: talk to your landlord before the rent is late, and ask for a repayment plan in writing. At the same time, ask for local rental help: the CFPB says state, tribal and local organizations are the best place to start, and 211 can point you to them (CFPB). If you still have to borrow, compare the loan's cost with the late fee in your lease; on the example below a small loan at the average rate costs less than a $75.00 late fee, but a smaller fee would change that. This is general information, not legal advice.
Talk to your landlord first
- Ask whether your landlord will work with you on a repayment plan. The CFPB notes that it is very rare for a landlord to prefer going through an eviction instead of receiving the rent (CFPB).
- Say how much you can pay now and when you can pay the rest. Offer a partial payment if you can.
- Get any plan in writing: the amounts, the dates, and whether a late fee will still be charged.
- Read your lease for the due date, any grace period and the late fee, so you know what paying late will cost.
Where to look for rental help
- Local programs: search for rental assistance in your city, county, state or tribal nation, and ask at town hall, your representative's office or the library (CFPB).
- 211: call or search online to find rent and utility help near you (CFPB).
- Housing counselors: some HUD-approved agencies offer low or no cost rental counseling; call 800-569-4287 and check that rental counseling is on the agency's list (CFPB).
- Longer term: HUD subsidized housing and housing choice vouchers help people with low incomes; your local public housing agency can tell you about eligibility (CFPB).
- Allow time: after you apply, rental assistance funds can take several weeks to arrive (CFPB). Tell your landlord you have applied.
Help with utility bills, phone bills and other costs is in emergency expense help without a loan.
Covering a $600 shortfall
Example only, our calculation: rent is $600.00 short this month. The $75.00 late fee is made up to show the math; yours is in your lease. Loans and the card are repaid in 3 equal monthly payments, interest counted monthly. Rates: the Federal Reserve's August 2026 averages for commercial bank credit card accounts that paid interest (22.36%) and 24-month personal loans (11.90%) (Federal Reserve G.19); your rate depends on your credit and the lender, and a loan may also carry an origination fee. The PAL row uses the 28% cap (NCUA) and the $20 maximum application fee (12 CFR 701.21(c)(7)).
| Option | Payments | Total paid | Added to the rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landlord repayment plan, no late fee charged | As agreed in writing | $600.00 | $0.00 |
| Pay late, lease late fee of $75.00 | $600.00 plus the fee | $675.00 | $75.00 |
| Personal loan at 11.90% APR | 3 monthly payments of $203.98 | $611.94 | $11.94 |
| Credit card at 22.36%, paid in 3 equal payments | 3 monthly payments of $207.50 | $622.50 | $22.50 |
| PAL at the 28% cap, plus a $20.00 application fee | 3 monthly payments of $209.41 | $648.23 | $48.23 |
Loan payment: P x r / (1 - (1 + r)-n), r = APR / 12, rounded to the cent.
- A written plan with no late fee costs nothing extra. Ask for it first.
- If the late fee is smaller than what a loan adds, paying late under an agreed plan can cost less than borrowing. If it is larger, a small loan at a fair rate can cost less.
- Either way, a loan only helps if the money arrives before the rent is due and the new payment fits next month's budget.
If your landlord files for eviction
Do not give up or skip court. The CFPB says to talk with a lawyer, that you may qualify for free legal aid, and that you have the right to file a written answer; a judge may delay or dismiss an eviction because you are trying to get help (CFPB). Servicemembers should contact their local Legal Assistance Office (CFPB). Rules differ by state and city, so local legal aid or a housing counselor can tell you what applies where you live.
If you are moving instead, see paying for moving costs. For a PAL, see payday alternative loans.
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Disclosure: Modern Lending Solutions is not a lender, loan broker or agent for any lender or loan broker, and does not make credit decisions. Any compensation we receive is paid by participating lenders, only for advertising services. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.
Sources
- CFPB: Get help paying rent and bills
- CFPB: What to do if you're facing eviction
- Federal Reserve: G.19 Consumer Credit (released October 7, 2026), terms of credit, August 2026: credit card plans and 24-month personal loans
- MyCreditUnion.gov (NCUA): Payday Alternative Loans
- eCFR: NCUA rule 12 CFR 701.21(c)(7), payday alternative loans (PALs I and PALs II)