Exeter Citizens Advice say they are concerned about an increase in the number of housing association tenants being threatened with repossession.
There has been a rise of nearly 13% in the cases brought to the county court in the 12 months to the end of March.
But cases brought by mortgage lenders, and private and social landlords, have all decreased.
Chief executive Steve Barriball thinks people struggling to pay housing associations may be failing to communicate with their landlords.