Current rent arrears in Angus have increased to £1.1 million, with the majority owed in the Arbroath, Carnoustie and Monifieth areas.
The outstanding balance owed by former tenants also sits at £1.1m.
Vivien Smith, head of planning and place, said they take “strong action” against tenants for non-payment and some tenants have been evicted.
She said: “Efforts are ongoing to pursue outstanding monies and since April 2016 there have been over 12,180 actions taken including over 4,372 visits to tenants or ex-tenants.
“Since April 2016, 85 court actions have been taken.
“There have been 39 cases where the council have been awarded a decree by the court since April 2016.
“Approximately 12% of decrees obtained have ended with an eviction.”
The £1.1m arrears owed by current tenants (up from £986,372 in March) relates to 2,808 cases while the £1.1m unpaid rent (up from £1m in March) from former tenants relates to 2,684 tenants.
Current tenant rent arrears are £492,748 in the Arbroath, Carnoustie and Monifieth area; £295,750 in the Forfar and Kirriemuir area; and £296,737 in the Montrose and Brechin area.
Former tenants owe £647,404 in the Arbroath, Carnoustie and Monifieth area; £347,183 in the Forfar and Kirriemuir area; and £193,731 in the Montrose and Brechin area.
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “It’s extremely worrying to hear of an increase in rent arrears in Angus, so we urge the council to do everything it can to help people keep their homes and only ever use eviction as the last resort after all other options have been tried.
“News that people are struggling to pay their rent and keep their home comes as no surprise to Shelter Scotland.
“Our research earlier this year showed that a third of working families in Scotland live month-to-month with no savings and that even a short spell out of work can put them into arrears and at risk of homelessness.
“It’s vital that people should pay their rent but if they are struggling they must seek help sooner rather than later before their housing problems become a crisis.
“We are on-hand to help anyone facing eviction, bad housing or homelessness, but getting advice early is key.”
Bruce Forbes, director of Angus Housing Association, warned that rent arrears among universal credit tenants have quadrupled.
He said: “The scale of the problem is huge and it will only get worse until there is a total breakdown.”
