Debt & Money Problems
Priority Debts
When you cannot pay everything at once, it is important to know which debts to deal with first. Priority debts are those where the consequences of not paying are the most serious — so they come before everything else.
Key information
- Priority debts can cost you your home, your energy supply, essential goods or your liberty
- They include rent, mortgage, council tax, gas, electricity and court fines
- Non-priority debts such as credit cards and personal loans come after
- Free debt advisers can negotiate affordable arrangements with priority creditors
On this page
What counts as a priority debt?
A debt is a priority not because of how large it is, but because of what can happen if you do not pay it. Priority debts carry the most serious consequences — losing your home, being disconnected from gas or electricity, having essential goods taken, or in some cases court action or prison.
- Rent — you could lose your home if you fall too far behind
- Mortgage or other loans secured on your home — your lender could seek repossession
- Council tax — the council can take enforcement action, and non-payment can ultimately lead to prison
- Gas and electricity — your supplier may disconnect you or fit a prepayment meter
- Court fines and, in many cases, tax and benefit overpayments
Why the order matters
It can feel logical to pay whichever creditor is chasing you hardest, but the loudest creditor is not always the most important one. Non-priority creditors such as credit card companies cannot take your home or cut off your energy, even though their letters can feel just as alarming.
By dealing with priority debts first, you protect the essentials — a roof over your head, warmth and power — before putting whatever is left towards non-priority debts. A free debt adviser can help you set realistic payments for both.
Getting help with priority debts
If you are behind on a priority debt, contact the creditor as early as possible — councils, landlords, lenders and energy suppliers often have hardship schemes or can agree an affordable repayment arrangement. A free debt adviser can speak to them for you and make sure any arrangement is genuinely affordable. Our guide to council tax arrears explains that debt in detail, as it is one of the most common priority debts.
Your rights & protection
- Energy suppliers must follow rules protecting vulnerable customers and should offer affordable repayment options before considering disconnection.
- Mortgage lenders must consider alternatives to repossession and treat repossession as a last resort.
- You are entitled to free, impartial advice to help you prioritise your debts and negotiate with creditors.
General information, not personal advice
Consumer Credit is an independent information service. We do not provide regulated financial advice or sell financial products. For advice on your own situation, speak to an appropriately authorised firm or a free service such as MoneyHelper. About Consumer Credit.
Sources
We checked this page against these official and authoritative sources.
- Citizens Advice, Work out which debts to deal with first (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.
- StepChange, Priority debts and bills — which to pay first (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.