Struggling with your mortgage payments
If you have fallen into arrears with your mortgage payments and you are worried you may lose your home, remember that there is help available.
The process of repossessing a property involves several stages and you can try to stop this process at any stage. The earlier you act the more options you will have.
What you can do:
- work out and understand your budget with the help of this online budget calculator
- contact your mortgage lender to discuss your circumstances. They may be able to grant you a ‘payment holiday’, reduce your monthly payments or temporarily switch you to interest-only repayments
- get free advice from a national or local organisation and visit Citizens Advice page.
- if you are receiving a qualifying benefit, you may be eligible for help with your mortgage interest payments from the government loan scheme called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
- check the online benefits calculator to see if you are eligible for any benefits to maximise your income
If your mortgage lender starts court proceedings
Remember, the repossession process can be stopped even at this point. To find out if you can do so:
- contact the Housing Advice Service
- check if you are eligible for legal aid
- seek free advice and support from any national or local organisations
- read advice on preparing for a court hearing
Additionally, you can also seek advice and representation for the court hearing from Turpin Miller, who are present on Mondays at the Reading County Court advice desk to support cases that are due to be heard that Monday. Please note that due to Covid pandemic all hearings are taking place remotely, and Turpin Miller are happy to arrange beforehand a call for the day of your hearing. If you qualify for legal aid, you may be offered further assistance. Please contact Klaudia Wlazlo on 01865 406035 or at kwlazlo@turpinmiller.co.uk for this support.