Distress is a remedy that a landlord can pursue without having to go to court to recover unpaid rent. The process of distress allows a landlord to hire a civil enforcement agency to seize property on the rented premises that belong to the tenant in order to recover the money owed as rent. The property can then be sold and the proceeds used to reimburse the rent. The right to use distress arises as soon as rent is late but the process must be carried out in accordance with the law.