Rent arrears and requesting a deferment

Questioner

I have to appear in court on 22/11 regarding 3 months' rent arrears. Of course I want to pay off this rent arrears because I now have a job again. Can I get an extension from the court? What should I do?

Lawyer

I assume that this is a summary proceedings procedure. In principle, it will not be possible to postpone the date of the hearing. The best thing to do is to pay the rent arrears as soon as possible, or try to agree on a payment arrangement with the landlord if possible. You can also tell your story to the judge and hope that he is willing to grant you a postponement to pay the rent arrears and thus prevent an eviction. I assume that the landlord demands the eviction in the procedure. However, if you want to prevent the judge from immediately ordering an eviction, you will have to come up with a good story and preferably have already paid off a large part of the rental arrears, or the entire rental arrears, before the hearing.

Lawyer

if you already pay one month's rent, then in principle the grounds for eviction will lapse. I do advise you to inform the Court and that you are prepared to agree on a payment arrangement.