rent arrears 24 months old

Rent Arrears

my tenant has lived in my flat for 3 years, he has had two months when he didn't pay his rent, 24 months ago and 16 months ago. I requested that he set up a payment plan a year ago, he responded by telling me he had lost his job 3 weeks prior. at this time he then missed another month, he has been on universal credit since then and so pays his rent 19 days late every month, apparently that's when he gets his benefits. he is 2 months and 19 days in arrears now. you can't get blood out of a stone, so do I leave the rent arrears, as I'm not likely to get it anyway, and just increase the rent, my costs have increased so the extra rent will at least cover that. I was thinking of an 8% increase.