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Mortgage arrears and repossessions

If you can't meet your mortgage payments, are worried you might fall behind with your payments or you have received a letter from your mortgage company (lender) about the repossession of your home - it is important to get help as soon as possible.

Get help now! The Housing Options Service may be able to help you avoid losing your home.

How do I contact them?

The Housing Options Service offers an appointment-based service to people who are threatened with homelessness. People can self-refer to the service by completing the following form or someone can refer another person, with their permission.

Referral form

When the form is submitted the person being referred will be allocated a Homelessness Prevention Officer who will contact them within 3 working days to discuss their situation, provide advice and arrange an assessment where necessary.

People who are homeless today should present at Salford Housing Options where a short initial assessment will be offered to confirm that they are homeless immediately. Where this is the case, a same day full assessment by a Homeless Prevention Officer will be offered.

Individuals or families should only attend the office if they have nowhere to go on the day. Otherwise, they should complete the self-referral form. If an individual or family attends the office but does have somewhere to stay (including temporarily), they will be asked to complete this referral and may need to attend again on a later date.

Salford Housing Options are located at:

Ground Floor
Salford Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
M27 5AD

Opening hours are:

  • 8.30am to 4.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
  • 12.30pm to 4.30pm on Thursday

If someone needs emergency accommodation outside the opening hours, please contact the Out of Hours service on 0161 794 8888.

Your lender will also inform the Housing Options Service that they are seeking to repossess your home – the Housing Options Service may contact your directly. However, it is better for you to contact the Housing Options Service as soon as you possibly can, when you first experience problems with paying your mortgage. The Service will try to work with you and your lender to try to prevent you from becoming homeless.

I'm struggling to make the payments

  • Always pay as much as you can manage every month
  • Keep making regular payments (even if you can't always pay the same amount)

By doing this, the company who lent you your mortgage is more likely to treat you understandingly and you will keep the charges for being behind with your payments, to a minimum.

What help can I get from the mortgage company who lent me the money for my mortgage – known as a lender?

Depending on your payment history and whether your difficulties are likely to be long term or short term, your lender might agree to:

  • Reduce your payments for a set length of time.
  • Change your mortgage (the money you borrowed) to an ‘interest only' mortgage – This type of mortgage allows you to make monthly payments that just cover the interest on the money you have borrowed, so the payments may be smaller.
  • Give you a ‘payment holiday' (this is where your lender will allow you to stop making payments for a while, however you will still be charged interest).
  • Extend the length of your mortgage to reduce your payments.
  • Postpone your payments.
  • Help you to claim on any mortgage payment protection insurance.

What help can I get from my council?

There is a range of help available from Salford Housing Options Service, which includes:

  • Talking to your lenders to try to find a solution.
  • Refer you to the Welfare Rights and Debt Advice service.

Support for mortgage interest

If you are on any of the following benefits, you can apply for help with paying the interest on your mortgage (more information can be found on the Department for Work and Pensions website):

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit

What is repossession?

If you have got into problems with your mortgage, your lender may decide to start legal action to take back your home - this is called repossession.

All lenders have to follow special legal procedures to repossess your home. There are laws to protect you.

How will I be told about it?

The first step your lender has to take to repossess your home is to write to you about the problems.

This letter should:

  • Tell you how much arrears you are in (how much you owe)
  • Give you the reasons why they might repossess your home
  • Give you at least 15 days to call them and discuss your problems
  • Offer you help and advice on how to keep your home

What could happen if I ignore my letters?

Firstly, don't ignore any letters from your lender!

Your home is important - do not risk losing it. If you do not deal with any letters from your lender they could go to court and take back your home.

If you are confused about your situation, take your letters down to the Housing Options Service who will explain what they mean and offer you help to deal with them.

Why have I received a bailiff's letter?

If your lender has been to court and got a repossession order, you will receive a letter giving you a date to leave your home.

If you haven't left by the date the court says, your lender can arrange for a bailiff to evict you. Bailiffs are employed by the court.

You will receive a letter from the court saying when the bailiffs will arrive.

Bailiffs can physically remove you and your belongings from the property but must not use violence or unreasonable force in doing so.

If you have received any letters from your lender or you are confused about your options, speak to the Housing Options Service now!

They may be able to:

  • Suggest ways in which you can delay or stop the repossession
  • Help you deal with court papers
  • Go to court with you
  • Offer you advice on being rehoused

It's never too late to get help and avoid losing your home.

Confused about your options?

Dealing with finances can be frightening. If you struggle with reading or maths the Housing Options service can put you in contact with specialist agencies that can support you and offer you independent advice and help.

Getting help and support can prevent you from getting into financial trouble.

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