Rent arrears - Tennant has advised they have issues but also not assisting to resolve matters

Rent Arrears

I am a landlord and for the first time I have a tenannt that is now in arrears.

I have had my tenant for 5 years and never had an issue. Over the past two years as rent has increased in the market I kept mine flat as they were good tenants and to give them some breathing space.

However by a mistake on my behalf I did not realise that they missed two payments at the start of the year which the tenant did not tell me they could not make the payments.

When I followed up recently, they informed me they are struggling to make payments but it would be resolved in the next few weeks as one tenant has lost her job which it sounds like maybe an illness and is awating payout of a court case against her employer. I offerred for them to advise me of any assistance needed but they did not.

I then noticed they had not made another payment, so I sent an NRLA templated letter about 6 weeks ago politely asking them how they will make payments to cover arrears and how we can manage this going forward. They advised they would make weekly payments in addtion to rent but so far nothing has been received.

I sent further NRLA templated letter recorded and signed for advising that I may need to take legal to regain access to the poperty if they are not forth coming, I have sigend proof they have received the letter but no response and now no recent monthly rental payment.

This is now compounded by the fact I have lost my job so it is cauisng further issues as I have no income to supplement the mortgage payments which is due to go up in December signifcantly when my fixed rate ends.

I have tried to look at my options but am confused about my rights to evict the tenant and claim reposseion of my property vs having to support the tenants as they have advised they are having issues to meet the rent because of matters out of their direct control.

Personally I would like to get the property back and get new tenants at the right market rate (25%-35%) higher than current because these tenants are not forth coming with communications and also knowingly missed payments and kept quiet.

Any good advice would be muchly appreciated.